RIGSBY -- Russell Melbourne, was born December 26, 1936 to Bill and Blanche Rigsby in Newcastle, Oklahoma.

He passed away at Southwest Medical Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, October 12, 1994 at age 57.

In 1955, he graduated from Tuttle High School and from Central State University in May of 1958.

On December 11, 1958, Russell and Joyce Hood were married in Tryon, Oklahoma. They lived seven years in Oklahoma City and then moved to Newcastle, and on July 4, 1992 they moved to Tryon, Oklahoma to the home place.

Russell was introduced to law enforcement at Edmond in 1956, where he served as a night dispatcher at the police department. In 1958, he moved to the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office as a dispatcher. In 1959, he transferred from the Sheriff's Office to the Oklahoma City Police Department. He served as a patrolman until October 1, 1962. He was then promoted to Detective and assigned to the Youth Bureau assisting in the control of juvenile delinquency in Oklahoma City. Promoted to Sgt. in 1972, he served in that capacity until 1973. He was then moved to the Chief's Office as an Administrative Assistant, serving as Public Information Officer. While serving in that capacity, he was promoted to Lieutenant. During that same year, he was transferred to a new position as a Commander of the Crime Analysis Unit. He then returned to the Youth Bureau as Commander in 1979 and remained in that position until his retirement in 1980.

Upon his retirement from public service, Mr. Rigsby was employed as manager of Freight Salvage Sales for Transcon Freight Lines from 1980 to 1990. He was a Special Investigator at the Oklahoma State Department of Health until the time of his death.

Survivors include his wife, Joyce of the home; three daughters, Jerri Oosting and husband, Tom of Perkins; Vicki Irwin and husband, Troy of Merritt Island, Florida; Shannon Prechtl and husband, Russ of Oklahoma City; two granddaughters, Leah and Anna Oosting of Perkins; brother, Jerry Rigsby and wife, Karen of Tuttle; stepbrothers, Bill Copeland and wife, Peggy of Tuttle; Don Copeland and wife, Martha of Denison, Texas; one stepsister, Carrol Chicoraske of Oklahoma City; scores of nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.

His parents, Bill and Blanche Rigsby and his stepfather, Clarence Copeland preceded him in death.

The family requests donations be made to The Make a Wish Foundation, 1624 S. Agnew, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73108, in lieu of flowers.

Services will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 15, 1994 at the First Baptist Church, Newcastle, Oklahoma with Brother Bill Gentry officiating.

Interment will be held at the Carney Cemetery, Carney, Oklahoma with Jerry Brown officiating.

Services are under the direction of Eisenhour Funeral Home.