Wilbur "Pete" David Rigor

Wilbur “Pete” Rigor, 105, died Monday evening, September 19, 2011, at Hickory Creek of Connersville. “Pete” was born August 28, 1906 to Charles H. and Bessie M. Jerman Rigor at their home located across from the East Side United Methodist Church. As a child, he was featured in the Gold Medal Flour advertisements. He attended the Lew Wallace School on Eighth Street and later Connersville Junior High. “Pete” delivered the News-Examiner and “had 250 customers on Central Avenue to 14th Street and then the side streets.” He attempted to join all the military branches during WW II but was rejected because he had suffered from pneumonia as a young person. “Pete” graduated from Indiana Barber College in Indianapolis and began work at the Luther Stewart Barber Shop on Central Avenue. He later owned and operated Pete’s Barber shop on 5th Street and retired after 65 years while operating a shop of the same name south of Roseburg in Union County. “Pete” was married to the former Irene Spacy, a local school teacher. Following her death, he was married in March of 1951 to the former Beulah Louise Watler and adopted her children. “Pete” is survived by his grandchildren and their spouses: Diane E. Hensley and William, Dana R. Kemker and Robert, all of Connersville, Terri L. Wilcox of Carmel, Jerry W. Larson of Laurel, Bradley S. Whitfield of Stow, Ohio, Michael D. Whitfield of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; twelve great-grandchildren; 19 great-great-grandchildren with another on the way; several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first and second wives, three children: Gerald D. Larson, Florence M. Hiers and Elaine King; three sisters: Dorothea, Estella and Mildred. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday at Showalter Blackwell Long Funeral Home, Myers Chapel, Connersville, with Rev. Betty Ann Garrett of the Grand Avenue United Methodist Church, officiating. Interment will follow in Dale Cemetery. Friends may visit at the funeral home Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of service where memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association. For additional information and to send condolences or memories, visit www.ShowalterBlackwellLong.com.