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He was born at home on Five Mile River Road, Darien, May 19, 1923. His parents were the late Walter F. Kiggins, Sr. and Harriet (Schmidt) Kiggins of Darien.
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 Iwo 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 Street where he 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 business where he worked until he was 91.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, the former Dorothy Palmer of Stamford; their six children, Donna (Michael) Hutcheson; Karen (Wilson) Goff; Lee (Christine) Kiggins; Dr. Christopher (Shelia) Kiggins; Mary Ellen Giles; and Andrew (Amy) Kiggins; 13 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his stepmother, Edith Kiggins, and by a brother, Walter F. Kiggins, Jr.
Services will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the United Church of Rowayton, 210 Rowayton Ave., Rowayton, with private interment to follow.
The Edward Lawrence Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Salvation Army, 198 Selleck St., Stamford, CT 06902 or the charity of one’s choice.
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