CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Florence Elaine Pettengill Rigby, 76, of Charlottesville and formerly of Kennebunk, Maine, died on Monday, Jan. 20, 2014 at Charlottesville Health and Rehabilitation Center. She passed on peacefully in the presence of her children.
Elaine was born on June 11, 1937 in Colerain, N.C. in her grandmother’s home. She was the daughter of the late Willard LaRue and Johnetta Belch Pettengill.
She married Robert “Bob” Rigby on Oct. 29, 1960. He passed away in 1999.
Elaine grew up in North Carolina and Portsmouth, Va.
She attended Westhampton College in Richmond and worked at NASA in Hampton, where she met and married her husband. Elaine attended Florida State University and earned a master’s degree in library science.
She enjoyed a career as a medical librarian in Pensacola, Fla. and Biddeford, Maine.
Elaine was continually learning and seeking new experiences throughout her life. Whatever topic she tackled, she took it on full force, whether it was Civil War history or designing and creating a quilt. She was an accomplished seamstress who sewed clothes for herself and family. Elaine enjoyed a variety of crafts but was especially skilled at quilting and rug-hooking. To all her quilting and hooking friends, she won! With her husband, Elaine played duplicate bridge and competed in many local and national tournaments. After moving to Charlottesville, she continued to play bridge with a core group of friends. She enjoyed going to the opera, and she always had a book in hand. A special passion was Florida State University football, and this was a good year.
Elaine was very special to many people. Her smile, wit and stories will be missed by her family and friends.
Elaine is survived by: her children, Susan Norris Rigby of Scottsville and Robert Norris Rigby Jr. of Arlington.
Also surviving are: her brother, John LaRue Pettengill of Midlothian; her sister, Deborah Pettengill Barket of Greensboro, N.C.; her nieces, Anne, Meredith, Lauren, Becca and Kaylee; her nephew, Morgan; and many cousins.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 24, 2014 at the Hill and Wood Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Marty Kuchma officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Richmond. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23 at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Senior Center of Charlottesville Scholarship Fund at the Senior Center, 1180 Pepsi Place, Charlottesville, VA 22901. Friends may send condolences to the family at www.hillandwood.com.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.