Obituary for Richard Dean "Dick" Riddle
Richard Dean “Dick” Riddle, 88, of Weston went home to be with his Lord on Monday, January 6, 2020 in Bridgeport Health Care Center following an extended illness. He was born in Weston on May 25, 1931: son of the late Clifton Waldean Riddle and Virginia Clare (Hardman) Riddle. On December 28, 1954, he married Anna Lee (Porter) Riddle, who preceded him in death on December 23, 2013.
Mr. Riddle is survived by one daughter: Lee Ann Black and husband John of Frederick, MD, two sons: Richard Dean Riddle, II, DMD and wife Mary Friar, MD of Cheshire, CT and Robert E. Riddle and wife Kathy of Olney, MD, nine grandchildren: Julia (Ben) Winter, DMD, Katie Riddle, MD and husband William Bodeis, Maggie Riddle, Kelly Riddle, Kasey (Justin) Bussineau, Robbie Riddle, Jake Riddle, Michael Fink, Jr. and Morgan Dean Fink and two great-grandchildren: Louise and Samuel Winter. In addition to his parents and wife, Anna Lee, he was preceded in death by one daughter: Julianna Riddle (stillborn) and son-in-law: Michael Fink, Sr.
Mr. Riddle was an educator. He was a graduate of Glenville High School with the class of 1949 where he was valedictorian. Dick and his wife Anna Lee met in high school when they were chosen for a visit to see West Virginia University campus. He then was a graduate of West Virginia University in 1955 with a bachelor’s degree in Education. He was a walk-on as a freshman to the football program and his locker was next to Sam Huff and he was also a member and treasurer of Kappa Alpha Order Alpha Rho Chapter of West Virginia University where he was initiated in 1954. He then got his masters at Michigan State in 1962 and received 120 credits towards his doctorate which he was qualified.
Before his education career started, Dick worked at Hardman Hardware in Glenville with family. Mr. Riddle started his teaching career at South Amherst High School in Ohio where he taught science. He then moved to Elyria, Ohio where he was head of the Science Department and taught Physics. Mr. Riddle ended his teaching career at Wheaton High School from fall of 1967 to spring of 1996. He was the Athletic Director from 1972-1973. While he was a Wheaton, he was selected to study Nuclear Physics at the Oak Ridge Institute in a pilot program to bring the information he obtained back to his fellow teachers. When he retired in 1996, he refused a retirement party. As the school was revamping their football stadium, it was named in honor of his service to their school.
Mr. Riddle fulfilled his 2 year ROTC obligation with the United States Army Reserves as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Engineering Corp at Fort Knox and Fort Belvoir following his graduation at WVU in Education.
Mr. Riddle attended the Church of Atonement in Silver Springs MD, Weston Presbyterian Church and the Clarksburg First Presbyterian Church where he and Anna Lee were active and he was a deacon. He was a coach in Boys Club Baseball and Boy Scout leader. Mr. Riddle was an official in Maryland and Ohio in football and basketball and was selected as a referee National Basketball Hall of Fame.
Mr. Riddle was active in masonic service. He was a member of Weston Lodge #10 A.F. & A. M., Past High Priest of Bigelow Chapter# 4 RAM, Past Commander of St, John’s Commandary #8, a member of Nemesis Shrine Temple of Parkersburg, WV and a member of the Lewis County Shrine Club. He was also a 32 degree member of Scottish Rite of Free Masons Valley of Clarksburg and Past Governor of Fort Henry York Rite College #61 in Wheeling, WV. He was a holder of the Order of the Purple Cross.
Friends will be received at the Hardman-Paletti Funeral Home 730 N. Main Avenue Weston on Saturday, January 11, 2019 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. from the Hardman-Paletti Funeral Home chapel with Pastor John Koerner officiating. Interment will follow services in the Lewis County Memorial Gardens of Weston, WV. Full military honors will be conducted by the United States Army and the Lewis County Honor Guard. Masonic rites will be provided by Weston Lodge #10 A.F. & A.M. On-line condolences and life stories in memory of Dick may be expressed at hardman-palettifuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church 175 W. Main Street Clarksburg, WV 26301.
Hardman-Paletti Funeral Home of Weston is honored and privileged to serve the family of Richard Dean “Dick” Riddle.
Mr. Riddle is survived by one daughter: Lee Ann Black and husband John of Frederick, MD, two sons: Richard Dean Riddle, II, DMD and wife Mary Friar, MD of Cheshire, CT and Robert E. Riddle and wife Kathy of Olney, MD, nine grandchildren: Julia (Ben) Winter, DMD, Katie Riddle, MD and husband William Bodeis, Maggie Riddle, Kelly Riddle, Kasey (Justin) Bussineau, Robbie Riddle, Jake Riddle, Michael Fink, Jr. and Morgan Dean Fink and two great-grandchildren: Louise and Samuel Winter. In addition to his parents and wife, Anna Lee, he was preceded in death by one daughter: Julianna Riddle (stillborn) and son-in-law: Michael Fink, Sr.
Mr. Riddle was an educator. He was a graduate of Glenville High School with the class of 1949 where he was valedictorian. Dick and his wife Anna Lee met in high school when they were chosen for a visit to see West Virginia University campus. He then was a graduate of West Virginia University in 1955 with a bachelor’s degree in Education. He was a walk-on as a freshman to the football program and his locker was next to Sam Huff and he was also a member and treasurer of Kappa Alpha Order Alpha Rho Chapter of West Virginia University where he was initiated in 1954. He then got his masters at Michigan State in 1962 and received 120 credits towards his doctorate which he was qualified.
Before his education career started, Dick worked at Hardman Hardware in Glenville with family. Mr. Riddle started his teaching career at South Amherst High School in Ohio where he taught science. He then moved to Elyria, Ohio where he was head of the Science Department and taught Physics. Mr. Riddle ended his teaching career at Wheaton High School from fall of 1967 to spring of 1996. He was the Athletic Director from 1972-1973. While he was a Wheaton, he was selected to study Nuclear Physics at the Oak Ridge Institute in a pilot program to bring the information he obtained back to his fellow teachers. When he retired in 1996, he refused a retirement party. As the school was revamping their football stadium, it was named in honor of his service to their school.
Mr. Riddle fulfilled his 2 year ROTC obligation with the United States Army Reserves as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Engineering Corp at Fort Knox and Fort Belvoir following his graduation at WVU in Education.
Mr. Riddle attended the Church of Atonement in Silver Springs MD, Weston Presbyterian Church and the Clarksburg First Presbyterian Church where he and Anna Lee were active and he was a deacon. He was a coach in Boys Club Baseball and Boy Scout leader. Mr. Riddle was an official in Maryland and Ohio in football and basketball and was selected as a referee National Basketball Hall of Fame.
Mr. Riddle was active in masonic service. He was a member of Weston Lodge #10 A.F. & A. M., Past High Priest of Bigelow Chapter# 4 RAM, Past Commander of St, John’s Commandary #8, a member of Nemesis Shrine Temple of Parkersburg, WV and a member of the Lewis County Shrine Club. He was also a 32 degree member of Scottish Rite of Free Masons Valley of Clarksburg and Past Governor of Fort Henry York Rite College #61 in Wheeling, WV. He was a holder of the Order of the Purple Cross.
Friends will be received at the Hardman-Paletti Funeral Home 730 N. Main Avenue Weston on Saturday, January 11, 2019 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. from the Hardman-Paletti Funeral Home chapel with Pastor John Koerner officiating. Interment will follow services in the Lewis County Memorial Gardens of Weston, WV. Full military honors will be conducted by the United States Army and the Lewis County Honor Guard. Masonic rites will be provided by Weston Lodge #10 A.F. & A.M. On-line condolences and life stories in memory of Dick may be expressed at hardman-palettifuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church 175 W. Main Street Clarksburg, WV 26301.
Hardman-Paletti Funeral Home of Weston is honored and privileged to serve the family of Richard Dean “Dick” Riddle.