Richard Manville Biggs
September 9, 1942 ~ April 6, 2022
Born in:
Buncombe Co., NC
Resided in:
Arden, NC
Richard Manville Biggs, a life-long resident of Buncombe County, passed away on April 6, 2022 after a long battle with cancer.
Richard was born September 9, 1942 and lived a beautiful, rewarding, fulfilled life.
He is survived by his wife of 9 years, Janet; his daughter, Beth Myrick (Ken); son, Richard Lee Biggs (Marie); and grandchildren, Kyle, Sean, Wesley and Laura. Richard is also survived by three of his six brothers, Joe, Jack (Rita) and Ted (Diane).
He is preceded in death by his brothers, Cecil, Bob and Larry Biggs, and his wife of 43 years, Virginia Queen Biggs.
Richard was active in the military for 30 years after joining the Marine Corps in 1960. After boot camp and training, he attended Artillery Survey School. He then served six months on a ship and was at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. In 1963 he was transferred to the Third Marine Division on Okinawa, Japan. While stationed there, he was deployed to Korea, the Philippines and to South Vietnam as an advisor to the South Vietnamese Marine Corps artillery. After his Pacific tour, he returned to Camp Lejeune, NC in 1964 and was assigned to test fire proposed new rifles until he was discharged that year.
In 1972, Richard joined the Naval Reserve as a APG Second Class Petty Officer. He served in RNMCB 24 until 1985 and was advanced to Senior Chief. While with RNMCB 24 he served as Engineering Chief, Mortar Platoon Commander, and the Detachment Officer in Charge of Det. 1324. In 1985 her served with COMRNCF as the Operations Chief (West) until 1988. He was then assigned as the Command Master Chief of RNMCB 14 in Jacksonville, Florida where he served until 1991. In 1992 he became the Command Master Chief of Officer in Charge of Construction for Southern Europe. In 1993 OICC Southern Europe was disestablished, and Officer in Charge of Construction Atlantic was established. Master Chief Biggs served as the first Command Master Chief of this new unit, and this was his final assignment in the Naval Reserve.
During his reserve service he was the owner of Hutchison Biggs Surveying until retirement.
Graveside services with military honors will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 12, at Green Hills Cemetery, with Chaplain Brian Williams officiating.
The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the American Cancer Society.
Services
Visitation: April 12, 2022 1:00 pm
Groce Funeral Home - Patton Ave.
1401 Patton Ave.
Asheville, NC 28806
(828)252-3535
http://www.grocefuneralhome.com
Graveside Service: April 12, 2022 2:00 pm
Green Hills Cemetery
25 New Leicester Hwy.
Asheville, NC 28806
(828)252-9831
It was a true honor/privilege being your daughter-in-law. I will cherish our conversations while on vacations. You with your cigar and Glenn Fedditch ( sp wrong I’m sure) and me with a cigarette and Corona. Hope your viewing a beautiful scene and enjoying a Gispert Cigar and a drink. Thank you for all the love, kindness, and compassion you showed us all. Your absence will be deeply felt.
Sending our prayers and deepest condolences, Jan.
We are proud to call you Uncle. You accomplished so much in your life time.
Your love of family & country showed in every aspect of your life. I am so thankful that we were able to spend a little time together during the past several years. You will be missed…..Love you…
Make sure to give daddy & mama a hug for me!
Jan, so sorry for your loss. Thinking of you now and praying for peace and comfort in the coming days.
Richard in Virginia we’re loving grandparents to my two boys. for that I’m eternally grateful my grace and peace fill the hearts of all of the family members as well as friends.
Words cannot describe the memories I have of working with a true professional like Richard Biggs. Whether on the military side of things or the professional surveyor skills Richard was calm, accurate, and reliable in all endeavors. Most importantly he was a team player and team builder. Excellence in all things was his way of life. Every one of us officers and men who worked with or for Richard are better off for the experience. Well done to our faithful Seabee and patriot. The foundation of our society is just a little stronger because of Master Chief Richard Biggs. We shall miss him so much.
Dean
I served with Richard in the USN Sea Bees. Richard was a good man, and he will be remembered for his leadership and honor. May God’s peace be with his family.
Wilson Echols
Eoc Charles Franklin .Rest in peace
We have shared his friendship, his Southern charm and wit for too short a time. He was a friend and will be sorely missed. Our prayers and sympathies go out to his wife, Jan, and his family.
Master Chief Richard Biggs was an inspiration to all, a great leader. May God Bless his family in this time of loss, Rest in Peace my brother in Christ.
My sincere condolences to the entire Biggs family. Richard was a true professional in every way. His surveying was always precise and accurate and he was always a genuine pleasure to work with. As an expert witness in court proceedings, his opinions were always highly respected and seldom challenged. A fine man, indeed.
Bill Slawter
To the family, I am sorry for the grief that you are feeling.
Knowing of God’s love for you, continue to look to him when he ” will wipe out all tears from our eyes, death, suffering, and pain will be no more “Revelation 21:3,4
He says death is an ” enemy that will be brought to nothing ” 1 Corinthians 15:26
How comforting to know that this will be a thing of the past and through Christ Jesus a resurrection for our loved ones.
jrfdog@gmail.com
Sincere Sympathy .
Dear Jan…I just learned of your loss…my heart hurts so very much for you and I pray you find comfort in the memories you and Richard made together. God bless you and your beautiful family at this difficult time. Love and God Bless, Delrey Salerno and Family