Willard C. Ridenour's Obituary
Willard C. "Bill" Ridenour 1916 ~ 2010
A celebration of life will be held on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 for Willard Charles "Bill" Ridenour, at Grace Baptist Church on Ross road in St. Helens beginning at 11 AM. Bill passed away on Tuesday, February 9, 2010, at the age of 93.
Bill was born on February 21, 1916 in Rhea, Arkansas, to William and Nettie Maberry Ridenour, followed by his sister Frances and brother Glenn. He grew up in Rhea and as a young adult, moved to Muskogee, OK, where he met, and fell in love with, Ruth Funk. They married on July 28, 1940 in Claremore, OK. After their first son, Chuck, was born, they moved west to settle in Oregon after a brief time in California.
Bill held several jobs, including working on the Alaska Pipeline, before he was employed at the Boise paper mill in St. Helens in 1950. He retired in 1979 after 29 years.
His first love was his family; his second was music. At the age of 16, Bill began strumming the guitar and continued to play for 77 more years. He was one of the original members of the local old-time band, the Ridge Runners, who played a mix of bluegrass, western, country, waltzes and religious tunes at various venues in the area. When he wasn't playing music, he also enjoyed fishing, golfing and woodworking. He built the first family home, by hand, in St. Helens. It took him one year to complete, finishing in 1958. Ten years later, in 1968, he completed their second home, also in St. Helens.
Bill is survived by his four children and their spouses: Chuck and Judy Ridenour of Longview, Wash., Ronald and Janice Ridenour of St. Helens, Jerry and Crystal Ridenour of St. Helens and Peggy and Dave Kling of St. Helens, sister Francis Alborn of St. Helens, 13 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years in 2006, his brother Glenn and both of his parents.
Bill was laid to rest on Friday, February 12, 2010 at Columbia Memorial Gardens in Scappoose, Oregon.
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