Charles Richard Ridenour, Sr.
Charles “Chuck” Richard Ridenour, Sr., age 76, of Shelby, died Thursday, November 26th, 2015 at the home of his son, Chuck, in Shelby.
Chuck was born on March 9, 1939, in Shelby to Cecil and Thelma (Dailey) Ridenour. A 1957 graduate of Shelby High School he was a proud Democrat and his yearbook quote reflected that, “And I say again, once a Democrat, always a Democrat.” Chuck worked for several years at AMF in Shelby where he met the mother of his children, Carol (Kaylor) Ridenour, who survives him. For 34 years, he worked as a die-maker at Fisher Body (General Motors) in Ontario retiring in 2000.
Throughout his life, Chuck was an avid bowler, but had not bowled since the closure of the Rhythm Bowl in Shelby. He served for several years as the Secretary of the Shelby Bowling Association in which his team held the high score for a five man team. Chuck was also a member of the Owls Club in Shelby. A history buff, he loved researching his family genealogy and had tracked his family lineage back several centuries. An avid NASCAR and Green Bay Packers fan, Chuck’s son Craig had gotten an autographed football and photo of Aaron Rodgers for him when he began his third battle with cancer. An “early riser,” he enjoyed catching up with the ladies at the Mickey Mart over a cup of coffee every morning. Chuck was an ardent supporter of his grandchildren’s endeavors, always attending as many as he was able. He was truly one of a kind and will be sorely missed.
Chuck is survived by his children: Charles R. (Pam) Ridenour, II of Shelby, Carl (Rhonda) Ridenour of Shelby, Craig (Tanya) Ridenour of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, and Cathy (David) Green of Shelby; 9 grandchildren: Charles R. Ridenour, III, Blake Ridenour, Austin Ridenour, Don Velli, Brooke Ridenour, Chelsea Ridenour, Sara Ridenour, Jordan Green, and Logan Green: 2 brothers: Tom (Rosemary) Ridenour of Shelby and Roger (Jean) Ridenour of Mullins, South Carolina; 4 sisters: Lee Anne McKinney of Palmer, Texas, Linda Ostrom of Mt. Gilead, Pam Ridenour of Homerville, and Carol (Jay) Rott of Zanesville; and by his canine friend, Bartley.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his canine friend, Cotton.
Friends are invited to call at the Turner Funeral Home, 168 West Main Street, Shelby, on Tuesday, December 1, 2015 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. A service honoring Chuck’s life will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday, December 2, 2015 at 10 a.m. with Rev. S.T. Adkins officiating. Burial will follow next to his parents in Maple Hill Cemetery in Homerville, Ohio.
Chuck was extremely proud and supportive of his family. His daughter, Cathy, is a breast cancer survivor and a contribution to Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Columbus Affiliate would be meaningful to both Chuck’s memory and his family instead of flowers.
To leave a condolence or share a memory of Chuck, please visit: penwellturner.com
So sorry to hear of Chucks passing .He’s the second friend we lost this week.
Frank Wiemer, I think was one of Chucks tool die foreman. My thoughts and prayers for both family’s. Chuck and I go back to school days. I also, bowled against him loved to get him rattled, lots of memories of both.
Chuck, Pam, Charlie, Brooke and the rest of the family. We are so sorry for the passing of your father, grandfather. Our hearts go out to each of you in this difficult time. Prayers for comfort and peace during the next trying days that are ahead of you. God is our strength and we will be praying for his hand to ease the pain. Love to all of you.
My deepest sympathy to the entire family and especially to Dave, Cathy, Jordan and Logan. May God grant you comfort and peace in this most difficult time. Your friends near and far will be praying for you. God Bless you all!
Always loved seeing the Ridenour clan together at all the local events. So sorry for the loss of your father and grandfather.
Dear Ridenour Family, We have been so blessed to have been a witness to such a close, fun & supportive family. Grandpa Ridenour helped raise four great kids right, and enjoyed watching his grandkids grow. He knew what a great choice his sons & daughter made in a mate, and was so proud of his family. Who were always so dedicated to him, and loved him dearly. We pray your hearts are flooded with the years of happy memories & family fun times together. He will be greatly missed. Love you all.
We are so sorry to hear of your fathers passing!! Thinking of your family!!
Dear Pam and Chuck, So sorry to hear of your loss. Denis and I went to school with your Dad, Chuck, and was always one of the nice guys. Denis, lived down the street also from him growing up. Our prayers are for your family. We both know how hard it is to lose a parent. Judy and Denis DuVall
When our family moved north to the Shelby area from the Dayton, Ohio area in the 1950’s, we began to attend the Methodist Church. It was that first session of Sunday School that I began a friendship that only ended with Chuck’s death.
While we shared many common likes and hobbies, it was the list of differences that ironically became our most common bond.
Chuck did, indeed love to bowl. I never found the time to learn. Chuck loved his hot coffee. Only recently have I acquired an affinity to iced-coffee.
Chuck was a fan of the New York Yankees and my favorites were the Cleveland Indians or the Cincinnati Reds, depending where in Ohio I lived.
Our politics also varied: Chuck was indeed the consummate Democrat while I was a Lincoln-based Republican.
There were also strong common likes: Friday night football games and the after-game dances at the “Y.” Saturday nights at the Grange, working on our personal cars. Working with Chuck’s father on the “right” car for Attica racing.
We kept in touch during our abbreviated college tenures. I moved from Marietta College and Shelby on my on June 6 “ 1958 D-Day” when I became the advanced Biddle family member to migrate to the Philadelphia, PA area in 1958
We were both active with Thespian Society plays in high school and we each were “paid” for occasional non-school staging activities.
It is ironic the shared genealogy interests proved to find Chuck was in error during our first Sunday School meeting. In that meeting, upon learning I was relocating to Shelby from Southern Ohio’s Wright Patterson Air Force Base, he accused me of being a rebel.
It was his discovery of his family’s “below the Mason Dixon Line” roots that turned the identity tables—he was the “rebel.” While his family linage studies predated mine, this hobby continues to be one of my strong interests.
Distance has never diminished my memories of the many shared experiences Chuck and I enjoyed. Until his reluctance to talk on the phone, that was our common means of communications. No visit to Shelby was complete until there was a Ridenour experience. In time they included reading sportswriter Charles in the Globe and dialogue with fellow insurance professional Carl. Also, nothing surpassed Carol’s smile and hostess efforts.
Shelby without Chuck will still foster memories, but never the same. His skilled orchestration of our class reunions always demonstrated his organizational- and people-awareness. The enjoyable successes his successors have achieved began with that Ridenour touch.
Goodbye, but not farewell, Chuck
So, so sorry to hear about Chuck. What fond memories I have of him trying to teach me to bowl on Saturday mornings when I was only 9 years old. He was so patient and continued to give me tips for several years. At that age I thought I was going to become a Pro-Bowler and he went right along with it!
Chuck has left a lasting impression on many people in our community. What a great man. He will be sadly missed.
May God keep you and comfort you.
Sorry to hear about your father Cathy. Chuck and I were on a bowling team together for a few years prior to the Rhythm Bowl closing. He was quite a character. Now with our children growing up the same age, seeing him come to their events always made me think back to those days. Steph and I will be praying for your family.