- Date Of Death: May 25, 2015
- State: Pennsylvania
Dr. Eugene Albert Diggs passed away peacefully on May 25, 2015. He was 86 years old. Most recently of Allentown, Pennsylvania, and was preceded in death in 2014 by his beloved wife and best friend of 59 years, Betty Ann Morrison Diggs. He lived a rewarding and interesting life. Born in Coffeyville, Kansas to Charles Albert Diggs and Marie Louise Hicks Diggs, he completed his bachelors degree at Colorado State College; his masters degree at Kansas State College and his Ph.D in Education at Colorado State College in 1962. As a lifelong educator and superintendent of various school systems including Anchorage, Alaska, St. Louis, Missouri, Overland Park, Kansas, East Hartford, Connecticut, East Windsor, New Jersey and Thomaston, Connecticut, he brought a dedicated mix of educational excellence, forward thinking and financial responsibility to each community in which he worked. He was a proud World War II era veteran serving in the 65thCombat Engineer Battalion, 25th Division, Army of Occupation of Japan, 1946-1948. Traveling 1400 miles on the ALCAN Highway, a mostly unpaved road in 1957, through British Columbia, Canada on their way to Alaska would be only one of many adventures he and his family would undertake and encounter throughout his life. While touring China as a Rotarian delegate, Dr. and Mrs. Diggs were present during the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 in Beijing, China. They were happy to be back in Connecticut after being detained by the Chinese Government for several days. With extensive travel in Europe, Asia and throughout the USA, new places, new cultures, new food and new people always intellectually intrigued Dr. Diggs. He could, and would, engage people in intelligent conversation on a broad range of topics; a rewarding experience for everyone and for which he found personally enlightening. Survivors: Surviving are his beloved three daughters, De Ann Diggs-Rich, Dana Van Hise and Denise Diggs Arnold of 2403 Main Street Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, plus three granddaughters: Whitney, Nicole and Addison; three grandsons: Steven, Michael and Patrick and one grandson, David, predeceasing him in death. His sister, Sue Diggs Varvel, of Greeley, Colorado predeceases him in death. Gene Diggs infectious smile will surely be missed but his love and respect for knowledge will remain instilled in his family, friends and acquaintances forever.
