Vernon D. Rigdon

Vernon was born in Ashland, Louisiana on October 11, 1924, and died March 25, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. The family will receive friends from 10:00 until 11:00am , April 18, 2025 at Terrace Park Chapel at 801 Northwest 108th Street Kansas City, Mo. Services will be held April 18, 2025 at 11:00am at Terrace Park Chapel. Military Honors, will follow. At a later date Vernon will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery. For a complete obituary go to www.TerraceParkFuneralHome.com.

He graduated from high school in Shreveport, La. in 1942 and on December 4,1942 enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp at the age of 18. During WWII he was in the Fourth Marine Division and participated in the battles of Roi and Namur in the Marshall Islands and Saipan, Marianas Islands. On June 22,1944 he was severely wounded while on an advanced patrol. He was in the hospital 16 months. On October 30,1945 he was honorably discharged as a line sergeant. He was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific ribbon with two battle stars, the Presidential Unit Citation with a star, the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star with the Combat “V”.

He was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

In February 1946 Vernon enrolled in Centenary College of Louisiana in Shreveport where he received a BS degree in accounting on May 29, 1949.

In 1958 he passed the Texas CPA examination and became a member of the Texas State Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He served as president of the Kansas City Chapter of Financial Executives Institute. He was listed in Who’s Who in America in its fortieth addition in April 1979 and again in 1981.

Vernon worked in the natural gas pipeline business for 39 years ending his career with Panhandle Eastern Pipeline Corp. in Kansas City Missouri as Senior Vice President and Treasurer.

Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Marilyn Rigdon of the home. Their daughter Lisa and her husband Brian Schmidt of Broomfield, Colorado, his four children from a prior marriage: Samuel Drew Rigdon his wife Carol, Donald C. Rigdon his wife Laurie of Kansas City, Mo. Terri Vee Rigdon of Guyton, Ga. and Ethel L. Wilder of Gunnison, CO. and many grandchildren and great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren, a daughter-in- law Cheryl Rigdon. Predeceased by parents and son, William “Bill” Rigdon.

His family and friends considered Vernon beloved, kind, generous, thoughtful and helpful. He had a sustaining faith in Jesus Christ. He has touched many lives with his warmth and will be greatly missed.