Isabel Geibel

Isabel Saylor Riggs Geibel, 101, passed away peacefully December 20, 2021, at the Rio Grande Hospital in Del Norte. She was a strong, independent woman for over a century, living independently until the time of her death. She was born in Canandaigua, New York on December 3, 1920, to Jane Bronkelbank and Jesse Bond Riggs.

Isabel served in the United States Marines during World War II. She earned her master’s degree and met three sitting presidents. She married Eric Bellendar on August 14, 1948, they remained married until Eric’s passing in 1977.

Isabel later met Fred Geibel, and they married in 1981 where they lived in Bath, New York until his passing in 1995. In 1999, she traveled to the San Luis Valley to visit family and fell in love with the area. She relocated to La Garita in May 2006, to be near her great-nephew Wesley and his family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Jessie Murray, and her great-nephew Wesley Riggs.

She is survived by her nephew; Richard Seybolt (Arlene) of Monkey Island, Oklahoma, great-niece; Kathy Riggs, and numerous great-great nieces and nephews.

Isabel chose cremation and will be interned at the Veterans Cemetery in New York.

Strohmayer’s Funeral Home is in care of the arrangements.