Charles Rigby

Charles Emery Rigby was born on February 21, 1921 in Sugar City, Idaho, to David Eckersley Rigby and Agnes Elsie Price. He was the youngest of nine children. When he was 2 years old, his family moved to Chance, Montana, where his father farmed. His dad passed away when Charles was 8 years old, and his older brothers took over the farming duties. Charles had a great childhood with 6 brothers and 1 sister to keep him company. He had one older brother who would pay Charles a nickel to scratch his back, and Charles thought he was rich! He would milk cows before he went to school in the morning, and after school, he had lots of chores as well as milking cows in the evening. Although these were the Great Depression years, he said he never wanted for anything because his family raised all of their own food. The family lost the farm when Charles was 11 years old, so his family moved to Driggs, Idaho, and lived with his maternal grandmother. His mother worked in her brother’s store before she remarried. This resulted in Charles gaining many new step-siblings from the Wilson family and forming relationships he cherished throughout the years.

While attending Utah State University, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps Reserves. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he was called into active duty. He trained to become a pilot and flew a B-17 bomber. He achieved the rank of Captain. He was stationed in Foggia, Italy, and he successfully completed 35 precarious bombing missions. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross by returning his crew safely in their severely damaged plane. After the war ended, He attended the University of Southern California Dental School on the G.I. Bill. He met Mary Jayne Tolton in California, and upon his graduation from Dental School, they were married in the Idaho Falls Temple on July 7, 1949. He practiced dentistry in Idaho Falls for 44 years. They were blessed with nine children: 8 daughters and 1 son. Charles served actively in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holding many callings, including serving on the high council and as bishop for 8 years. He also served on the local school board. Once he retired, Charles and his wife Mary Jayne served as ordinance workers in the Idaho Falls Temple. In 1989, he and his wife enjoyed serving a mission in the California Santa Rosa Mission.

In 1992, Charles and Mary Jayne moved to Lindon, Utah, to be closer to family. They worked as temple ordinance workers in both the Provo and Mount Timpanogos Temples. Charles lovingly cared for Mary Jayne while she suffered with Alzheimer’s disease. When she was eventually moved into a care center, Charles would visit her every day with one of his daughters. She passed away on February 28, 2007. Charles continued to serve in the temple until the age of 94. Since his wife’s death, he has lived with his daughter and son-in-law, Allie and Shirl Tomlinson, who have taken great care of him. Allie was able to accompany Charles on the “Honor Flight” to Washington, DC, after he ended his service at the temple. He loved to walk and go through a regimen of exercises every day, and eat a big green salad for lunch. He contracted the COVID-19 virus last year in January and survived that! He passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 6, 2022. Charles was an amazing, loving example of service to his family, extended family, and many around him. We will cherish the great influence he has been in our lives. Charles is survived by his children: Sherri Guyon, Mary Kay Lloyd, Nancy (David) LeSueur, Julie (Greg) Andrew, Robert, Tricia (David) Wilkes, Allie (Shirl) Tomlinson, Becky (Todd) Anderson, and Jennifer (Troy) Nielson; 31 grandchildren; 48 great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 11, 2022 at 11 am at the Lindon Central Stake Center, 56 E 600 N, Lindon, UT. Friends may call there as well on Thursday evening from 6-8 pm and an hour prior to the funeral on Friday morning.

Please click on the link below to watch the the service via live stream:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88555044019?pwd=RU4xejM1cW4wc2tPbzViRWNsSkNzZz09