William Henry Ridley

William Henry Ridley

William Henry Ridley

October 30, 1917 – June 13, 2012

Leighton, Iowa

Visitation: will begin at noon on Friday, June 15, 2012 at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel. The family will be present from 5 – 7 p.m. to greet visitors. A Christian Vigil Service will follow the visitation at 7:15 p.m..
Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m., Saturday morning, June 16, 2012 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with Reverend Father Jeffrey Belger officiating.
Interment: St. Mary’s Cemetery in Oskaloosa.

Bill passed away Wednesday afternoon at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines at the age of 94 years, 7 months and 14 days.

William “Bill” Henry Ridley, son of Henry and Edna May Brand Ridley, was born October 30, 1917 in What Cheer, Iowa. William was a 1935 graduate of What Cheer High School and then worked at different jobs until 1940 when he began his life long career with the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway. The railroad was eventually renamed to the Chicago Northwestern. Bill was working as a conductor when he retired in 1977.

Bill married Agnes May Russell, April 26, 1940, in Oskaloosa. They made their home in Oskaloosa where they raised their family. Bill loved the outdoors and hunting with his sons. Bill and Agnes enjoyed many years of camping and loved spending time with their children and grandchildren. Bill and Agnes were married 67 years at the time of her death on July 25, 2007. He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

Bill is survived by his children: Russell William “Bill” and Diane Ridley of Chardon, Ohio; Luana and Eugene Van Gorp of Oskaloosa; Ronald David Ridley of Jetmore, Kansas and Jeffrey and Julie Ridley of Leighton, Iowa; 14 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren and 9 great-great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents and his wife, Bill was preceded in death by a brother, three sisters and a grandson, Cody Jason Van Gorp.

Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.