Donald L. Kiggins, Sr., 92, of Darien, Fairlee, VT and Marco Island, FL, passed away on Saturday, January 9, 2016. He was born at home on Five Mile River Rd., Darien, on May 19, 1923.
Donald Kiggins built his home on Raymond Street in 1961 and lived there until he passed away Jan. 9.
His parents were the late Walter F. Kiggins, Sr. and Harriet (Schmidt) Kiggins of Darien. He was predeceased by his Step-Mother, Edith Kiggins, and by a brother Walter F. Kiggins, Jr.
He graduated from Darien High School in the class of 1941 and attended Dickinson Junior College during the war and Bridgeport University after the war.
He joined the U. S. Army Air Corp in 1943 and became a P-51 Mustang Fighter pilot. Stationed on Iow Jima, he flew combat missions escorting B-29 bombers over Japan until the end of the war.
After the war, he became a builder and built houses in Stamford, Rowayton and Darien, including his own home on Raymond St. where he has lived since 1961. In 1953 he joined his father and brother in the family home heating-oil business, Rowayton Fuel, and helped build it into a successful local concern where he continued to work until he was 91.
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— an obituary from Edward Lawrence Funeral Home
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He is survived by his wife of 68 years, the former Dorothy Palmer of Stamford, and by their six children: Donna (Michael) Hutcheson and their children, Stacy, Wes and Andrea; Karen (Wilson) Goff and their children, Patrick, Ian and Harrison; Lee (Christine) Kiggins and their children Don III and Elizabeth; Dr. Christopher (Shelia) Kiggins and their children Matthew, Tyler and Wes; Mary Ellen Giles and her children, Jordan, Hunter and Alex; Andrew (Amy) Kiggins; and eleven great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at the United Church of Rowayton, 210 Rowayton Ave., Rowayton, on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016 at 11:00 AM with a private interment to follow. Details on the services may be found on Edward Lawrence Funeral Home website.
In lieu of flowers, donation may be made to Salvation Army, 198 Selleck St., Stamford, CT 06902 or the charity of your choice.