Onita Benge Riggs

Mrs. Onita Benge Riggs, 86, of Mount Airy, a loving wife, mother, and grandmother passed away Sunday morning, April 27, 2014, at the Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home in Dobson. She was born June 7, 1927 in Surry County, to the late Clarence C. and Ida Coe Benge. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Maggie Whitaker and Sadie Sprinkle, and a brother, Cecil Benge. Mrs. Riggs was a member of Blues Grove Baptist Church for over 50 years. She had been employed at Proctor-Silex Inc. and Washington Mills, and she retired from the Dobson Elementary School cafeteria staff after 17 years of service. She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Paul Edward Riggs, of the home,a daughter and son-in-law, Patty and the Rev. Dennis Bledsoe of Dobson,and two sons and daughters-in-law, Tom and Judy Riggs and Terry and Kay Riggs, all of Mount Airy. She is also survived by six grandchildren,Joshua and Lisa Bledsoe, Emily and Rex Stroud, Katie and Derek Ayers, Andy Riggs, Scott and Trenika East, Belinda and Scott Epperson,and eight great-grandchildren, Abbie Stroud, Meredith Stroud, Dakota Epperson, Kaley Epperson, Shawn Epperson, Haley East, Brittany East, and Adison East. Additional survivors include a sister, Geraldine Martin of Elkin; and a sister-in-law, Barbara Benge of King. The funeral service will be held Tuesday, April 29, 2014, at 2:00 pm at Blues Grove Baptist Church, with the Rev. Travis Sechrist and the Rev. Roland McCraw officiating.Burial will follow in the church cemetery.The family will receive friends Monday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 pm at Moody-Davis Funeral Home in Dobson.Her body will remain at Moody-Davis Funeral Home in Dobson until carried to the church to lie-in-state 30 minutes prior to the service. Flowers will be accepted, or memorial contributions may be made to the Blues Grove Baptist Church Cemetery Fund; or the Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home, 945 Zephyr Road, Dobson, NC 27017.