John Winslow Rigsbee

On Friday, November 1, 2024 at the age of 93, John Winslow Rigsbee was reunited with his beloved late wives Jeanne H. Rigsbee and Mary Lee A. Rigsbee after a courageous battle with cancer. Born in Indianapolis, IN to the late Clifford M. Rigsbee and Kathleen W. Rigsbee, John is survived by his children John S. Rigsbee, Cynthia R. Holm and her husband Paul Holm and David A. Rigsbee and his wife June P. Rigsbee, his grandchildren, John Poul W. Holm, Antonia L. Rigsbee and John J. Rigsbee and great granddaughter Paige H. Rigsbee, his brothers Richard Rigsbee and Robert Rigsbee. John is preceded in death by his brothers Clifford Rigsbee and James Rigsbee. John graduated from Tech High School in Indianapolis, IN class of 1948. John then attended Indiana University where John met and married his first wife, Jeanne Hirsch. John graduated from Indiana University where he was enrolled in an OCS course for the Marine Corp. John served in the Korean War, stationed in Iwakuni, Japan as a Marine Corp Aviator Captain flying the AD Skyraider. Sadly, Jeanne died of polio while John was serving his country. After leaving the Marine Corp John moved to New Jersey where he met and married his second wife, Mary Lee Armitage. John was a Regional Manager for Lee’s Carpets, then became a real estate agent. After selling real estate John and Mary Lee moved from New Jersey to Naples, FL where he worked as a Service Manager at Great American Boatyard. John’s passion was boating, and for over 60 years he was able to pursue that passion with numerous power boats and his pride and joy the “R-WAY” a 30’ C&C sloop. John’s love of sailing took him on many adventures, making new friends everywhere he went. John was an avid reader who liked to relax with a good spy novel or mystery. John had a great sense of humor and a ready smile along with a joy and zest for life that was apparent to everyone he met. John was a man of many talents and a true gentleman who, with a wink and a smile, could charm anybody. John always had a twinkle in his eyes, so the next time you look up into the night sky (as John often did when sailing) you will see a star twinkle back - that will be John. The family will hold a Celebration of Life at a later date.

John Winslow Rigsbee

February 5, 1931 - November 1, 2024