EAGAR, Roland (Wig) Riches

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ December 3, 2010 Roland "Wig" Riches Eagar, 93, died at his residence in Pinetop Nov. 25, 2010. He was born July 4, 1917, in Eagar to George Albert and Lurana Brown Eagar. He was the seventh of eight children. He married Ruth Ola Moore, a native of Chireno, Texas, Dec. 4, 1941, in Nutrioso. During his adult life he worked for Tanner Brothers Construction and Standard Oil of California, later to become Chevron Oil. He served in the Army during World War II in the Fourth Armored Division as a member of a tank crew and was injured twice. After the war, he settled his family in the Valley of the Sun where they lived in Glendale until late 1960 at which time they moved to the area of Salt Lake City, Utah for almost three years, then to Denver, Colorado in 1963. They lived in Denver until he retired from Chevron Oil in 1976. In 1976, Wig and Ruth moved to Manti, Utah where they raised a large garden and served in the Manti Temple until 1993, when they returned to Arizona and bought a home in Eagar, on Eagar Street. Here they lived until Ruth passed away in 2004 at which time Wig went to live with his daughter Virginia in Pinetop. Wig and Ruth are parents of four children: Lurana Jeanne (Bill) Burrell of Pocatello, Idaho; Benton Roland (Georganna) Eagar of Washington, Utah; Clifton Moore (Patricia) Eagar of Tucson, Arizona and Virginia Ruth (Cris) McBride of Pinetop. He is survived by his children and their spouses, 12 grandchildren and 11 of their spouses, 33 great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren, sister-in-law Mina Sherwood Eagar, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his loving wife of 63 years, Ruth; parents George and Lu; siblings and their spouses, Lurana and Ellis Nielson, Ross and Ellen Eagar, Byron Eagar, Nina B. Eagar, Paul and Ellen Eagar, Alice and Glen Wilkins, Wendell and Lynn Eagar. Throughout Wig's life he was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many callings including Bishop, Senior Couple Missionary, Temple Worker and Sealer. He was a family man who worked to provide for his family, then spent quiet time at home with them anytime he was able to. He enjoyed vegetable gardening, cutting firewood, working alongside Ruth and puttering around the house. He clearly missed Ruth and has looked forward to being reunited with her for eternity. A viewing was held Nov 30, at Burnham Mortuary of Eagar with funeral services Wednesday, Dec. 1, in Pinetop at the Woodland Lake Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4075 Bucksprings Road. Interment will be at the Eagar Cemetery. Burnham Mortuary of Eagar handled arrangements. To send an online condolence, visit www.burnhammortuary.com