Ernest Joe Riddle, 94, of Tifton, went to be with his Lord and Savior on February 14, 2009. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, February 16, 2009, at Tifton's First United Methodist Church. Rev. Sam Rogers and Rev. Glenn Martin will officiate with burial to follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery. Grandchildren will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Tifton Rotary Club, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Reinhardt, Mrs. James Bowen, Frank McGill, Charles Kent, Tommy Smallwood, Greg Anderson and Sheriff Gary Vowell. The family will receive friends on Monday, February 16, 2009, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mr. Riddle was born on January 17, 1916 in Ashland (Clay County), Alabama and was the son of David Van Buren Riddle and Katherine Elizabeth Stephens Riddle, both deceased. He was also preceded in death by the love of his life and wife of 57 years, Edith Marie Nelson Riddle, who died on February 14, 2003. He has missed her every day since. He was also preceded in death by one sister and brother-in-law, Dot and Jim Magoffin and one brother-in-law, John Earl Fischer.
After attending the University of Alabama, he worked as a Project Engineer at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. Later, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps, now the United States Air Force. As a World War II veteran, Mr. Riddle honorably served his country as an officer and flight engineer and remained passionate about his love and service to his country throughout his life.
Moving to Tifton, he entered the lumber manufacturing business in 1949 and operated successfully for decades. Mr. Riddle was a leader in the Southern Pine Manufacturing industry in the Southeastern United States. He served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Bank of Tifton and the C&S National Bank.
He was an avid aviator, piloting his own aircraft until the age of 80. He proudly worked to improve and expand airport facilities and business growth in Tift County.
He and Marie were working and supporting members of Tifton's First United Methodist Church all of their life in Tifton. They were a loving couple and their love affair was briefly delayed by Marie's death on Valentine's morning in 2003. Saturday morning, Valentines' Day, their love affair continued again - A Hallelujah Day.
He loved his family dearly. He is survived by his siter, Mary Lou Fischer of McKenzie, Alabama; and sister-in-law, Lorraine Webster of Amarillo, Texas. He cherished his three daughters and sons-in-law, Judy and Warren Fletcher of Georgetown, Florida, Susan and Hugh Gordon of Tifton and Sarah and Fred Powell of Tifton. He loved his two sons and daughters-in-law, Dave and Barbara Riddle of Tifton and Tom and Juli Riddle of Tifton. He adored and was adored by his grandchildren and great grandchildren, Woody, Deanna, Madeline, Jack and Ellie O'Neal; Joe, Maggie Joe and Georgie Jen O'Neal; Jimmy, Caleb, Jillian and Amanda Fletcher; Michael, Anne, Chase, Aiden and Seth Fletcher; Mary Beth, Skip, Michaela and Delaney Jo Marks; Hardy and Claire Gordon, Adam and Kelly Gordon and Luke Gordon; John Paul Petsch, Brian Petsch and Rick Powell; Joe Riddle and Daniel Riddle; Tyler Riddle, Chase Riddle, Kate Marie Riddle, Hampton Riddle; and several loving nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mr. Riddle's many favorite charities: Tifton's First United Methodist Church, Hampton Riddle-Relay for Life, Tift County Special Olympics and the American Heart Association.