Robert Joseph "Kip" Rigdon

Robert Joseph “Kip” Rigdon, of Statesville, NC, went to be with his Lord on Friday, April 6th, 2018 in the New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, N.C. He was born in Cape Girardeau, Mo. on June 16, 1935. Kip was an athletic young man, playing football and biking through the San Bernardino Mountains in Southern California, a place of many of his fondest memories. A dedicated servant to the Catholic Church, he also served his country in the U.S. Air Force from 1955 to 1959 and Air Force Reserves from 1959 to 1963. No matter his vocation or location, Kip’s passions were many – he loved to show off his culinary skills, and his love for music and the arts ran deep. He will always be remembered for his creative and artistic ways to celebrate important occasions, including his infamous “upside-down” Christmas tree. Kip treasured his family and took pride in teaching his children how to navigate life’s challenges; he was never short on advice! While in California, Kip was known to spend time volunteering to feed the sick and less fortunate. He and the love of his life, Carol, would spend time with their friends singing around the grand piano at Marcello’s Piano Bar in Danville, along with many of their talented friends. Later in life he found joy in feeding the wildlife and landscaping the home he and Carol shared in Statesville, N.C. Kip is survived by his five children, Charlene (Chuck) Donato, Theresa (Chris) Perry, James (Heather) Rigdon, Karen (John) Whitaker, and Holly Rigdon; his fourteen grandchildren, Christopher, Izabelle, Joseph, Jennifer, Jonathan, Ziva, Andrew, Josie, Anya, Jack, Cooper, Nerissa, Cora, and Hynlee; his three sisters, Maureen (Mike) Russell, Suzanne (Bill) Van Horn and Charlotte Crawford; and his brother, Thom (Sharon) Rigdon. Family and Friends are invited to a 2 p.m. Funeral Mass on Friday, April 13th at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 2643 Waterloo Road Mogadore, OH 44260 with Father Thomas Acker, S.J. presiding. Visitation prior to the Mass, from 1:30 to 2 p.m. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank http://www.akroncantonfoodbank.org/tribute-memorial-gifts (Hopkins Lawver, Akron, 330-733-6271) www.hopkinslawver.com