Lester Paulvin Ridgon

Lester Rigdon, a Lab retiree, died Dec. 16. He was 84.

Born Feb. 14, 1927, he graduated from House High School, in Union, Miss. in 1944. He enlisted in the Navy on his 18th birthday and served as a medical assistant for nine years, reaching the rank of chief petty officer. He served in the Navy until he was honorably discharged at Moffett Field, in Mountain View, Calif. in 1953.

Rigdon resided in California and attended San Jose State University, earning a degree in chemistry in 1958. After graduation, he joined the Lab, where he worked as an analytical chemist for 32 years until he retiredin 1990.

Shortly after his retirement, Rigdon returned to Union, Miss. with his wife where he lived for the last 21 years.

Rigdon is survived by two sons, Lamar Rigdon of Union and Paulvin Lester Rigdon of Granite Bay; daughter, Julie Jaroshenko of Sunnyvale; two grandsons, Grant Paulvin Rigdon and Matthew Rigdon; brothers Keith Rigdon and Gerald Rigdon; sister, Lynn Bishop of Union; and a sister-in-law, Janice Rigdon.

He is preceded in death by his wife Irina Rigdon, parents Blanche Rigdon and Lester Rigdon, and two brothers, Willis Rigdon and Lavette Rigdon.

Services were held Dec. 18 in Union, Miss.