Lehman Riggs, age 101 of Cookeville passed away Thursday, August 19, 2021 at Heritage Pointe Senior Living. He was a World War II Veteran and oldest living veteran in Putnam County. Lehman was born January 17, 1920 in Pocahontas, Arkansas to the late Charles Ernest Riggs and Eva Dawson Riggs.
He moved to Michigan to work in the automotive industry which supported the US military efforts during World War II. Lehman played a key role as a supervisor and had government deferment from active military service. After witnessing many of his friends with children going off to fight, he decided to forgo the deferment and enlist in the US Army. He saw seven months of combat mostly in Germany, and he participated in the Battle of the Bulge.
On April 19, 1945, Lehman and a fallen comrade were photographed while providing cover fire on the third story of a balcony in Leipzig, Germany. The photograph entitled The Last Man to Die was later published in Life magazine. Later Lehman returned to Leipzig in 2012 and 2016 and was honored by the town for his service.
Following the war, Lehman started a career with the US Postal Service. He retired in 1977 after 30 years of service.
Lehman was a member of the Veterans Honor Guard in Cookeville. He participated in over 1000 funeral military honors for veterans.
Lehman was a faithful Christian and an active member and Sunday School teacher at Stevens Street Baptist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife of 60 years: Lila Waller Riggs; second wife of 22 years: Jean Talley Riggs; sisters: Ernestine Riggs, Madeline Whiteaker, Eileen Dalton, Geneva Miller, Eva Lena Mitchner, Betty Jo Mullins, and Dorothy Bugbee; and brother: Charles Raymond Riggs.
He is survived by two brothers: Dwight Riggs of South Carolina and James Riggs of Florida.
Funeral services with military honors were held Monday August 23, 2021 at Stevens Street Baptist Church. Graveside services and interment were conducted Wednesday, August 25, 2021 at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.
He moved to Michigan to work in the automotive industry which supported the US military efforts during World War II. Lehman played a key role as a supervisor and had government deferment from active military service. After witnessing many of his friends with children going off to fight, he decided to forgo the deferment and enlist in the US Army. He saw seven months of combat mostly in Germany, and he participated in the Battle of the Bulge.
On April 19, 1945, Lehman and a fallen comrade were photographed while providing cover fire on the third story of a balcony in Leipzig, Germany. The photograph entitled The Last Man to Die was later published in Life magazine. Later Lehman returned to Leipzig in 2012 and 2016 and was honored by the town for his service.
Following the war, Lehman started a career with the US Postal Service. He retired in 1977 after 30 years of service.
Lehman was a member of the Veterans Honor Guard in Cookeville. He participated in over 1000 funeral military honors for veterans.
Lehman was a faithful Christian and an active member and Sunday School teacher at Stevens Street Baptist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife of 60 years: Lila Waller Riggs; second wife of 22 years: Jean Talley Riggs; sisters: Ernestine Riggs, Madeline Whiteaker, Eileen Dalton, Geneva Miller, Eva Lena Mitchner, Betty Jo Mullins, and Dorothy Bugbee; and brother: Charles Raymond Riggs.
He is survived by two brothers: Dwight Riggs of South Carolina and James Riggs of Florida.
Funeral services with military honors were held Monday August 23, 2021 at Stevens Street Baptist Church. Graveside services and interment were conducted Wednesday, August 25, 2021 at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.
Lehman Riggs, age 101 of Cookeville passed away Thursday, August 19, 2021 at Heritage Pointe Senior Living. He was a World War II Veteran and oldest living veteran in Putnam County. Lehman was born January 17, 1920 in Pocahontas, Arkansas to the late Charles Ernest Riggs and Eva Dawson Riggs.
He moved to Michigan to work in the automotive industry which supported the US military efforts during World War II. Lehman played a key role as a supervisor and had government deferment from active military service. After witnessing many of his friends with children going off to fight, he decided to forgo the deferment and enlist in the US Army. He saw seven months of combat mostly in Germany, and he participated in the Battle of the Bulge.
On April 19, 1945, Lehman and a fallen comrade were photographed while providing cover fire on the third story of a balcony in Leipzig, Germany. The photograph entitled The Last Man to Die was later published in Life magazine. Later Lehman returned to Leipzig in 2012 and 2016 and was honored by the town for his service.
Following the war, Lehman started a career with the US Postal Service. He retired in 1977 after 30 years of service.
Lehman was a member of the Veterans Honor Guard in Cookeville. He participated in over 1000 funeral military honors for veterans.
Lehman was a faithful Christian and an active member and Sunday School teacher at Stevens Street Baptist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife of 60 years: Lila Waller Riggs; second wife of 22 years: Jean Talley Riggs; sisters: Ernestine Riggs, Madeline Whiteaker, Eileen Dalton, Geneva Miller, Eva Lena Mitchner, Betty Jo Mullins, and Dorothy Bugbee; and brother: Charles Raymond Riggs.
He is survived by two brothers: Dwight Riggs of South Carolina and James Riggs of Florida.
Funeral services with military honors were held Monday August 23, 2021 at Stevens Street Baptist Church. Graveside services and interment were conducted Wednesday, August 25, 2021 at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.
He moved to Michigan to work in the automotive industry which supported the US military efforts during World War II. Lehman played a key role as a supervisor and had government deferment from active military service. After witnessing many of his friends with children going off to fight, he decided to forgo the deferment and enlist in the US Army. He saw seven months of combat mostly in Germany, and he participated in the Battle of the Bulge.
On April 19, 1945, Lehman and a fallen comrade were photographed while providing cover fire on the third story of a balcony in Leipzig, Germany. The photograph entitled The Last Man to Die was later published in Life magazine. Later Lehman returned to Leipzig in 2012 and 2016 and was honored by the town for his service.
Following the war, Lehman started a career with the US Postal Service. He retired in 1977 after 30 years of service.
Lehman was a member of the Veterans Honor Guard in Cookeville. He participated in over 1000 funeral military honors for veterans.
Lehman was a faithful Christian and an active member and Sunday School teacher at Stevens Street Baptist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife of 60 years: Lila Waller Riggs; second wife of 22 years: Jean Talley Riggs; sisters: Ernestine Riggs, Madeline Whiteaker, Eileen Dalton, Geneva Miller, Eva Lena Mitchner, Betty Jo Mullins, and Dorothy Bugbee; and brother: Charles Raymond Riggs.
He is survived by two brothers: Dwight Riggs of South Carolina and James Riggs of Florida.
Funeral services with military honors were held Monday August 23, 2021 at Stevens Street Baptist Church. Graveside services and interment were conducted Wednesday, August 25, 2021 at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.
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