Slice of History - Phyllis Riggle’s Retirement

Phyllis Ward Riggle (left) was one of the original female engineers at JPL. A 1944 graduate of Pomona College, Claremont, she joined JPL in 1950 as a member of the Computing Staff, and as a mathematician with various JPL groups.

From 1957-1959, as a member of the Research Analysis Section, Riggle participated in general flight path analysis and trajectory development for Sergeant, Explorer, and early Pioneer flights. Over the years, she held a variety of key engineering and technical posts in space science, project engineering, and mission concept studies and analysis. From 1974-1980, Riggle was technical manager in the Flight Projects office, and from 1980 to her retirement in 1981 (retirement party pictured), she was assistant manager for Science Implementation, FPPO.

Riggle passed away in August 2004, and is buried with her husband, Norman, near their beloved cabin at Jackpot Mine in the ghost town of Ballarat, California. CL#22-6247

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