"Peggy" Margaret Lynn Riddle

Peggy Riddle passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 10, 2024. Peggy was born on November 17, 1956 to Don and Hazel Riddle in Corcoran, California. Peggy was the third child of Don and Hazel’s four children, Cathie Riddle Walker, Gary Riddle, and her twin brother Kevin Riddle. She is preceded in death by her parents, Don and Hazel and grandparents, Ralph and Margaret Gilkey and Charles and Laura Riddle.

The Riddle family moved from Corcoran to Orosi, California when Peggy was 2 years old. She grew up on the family citrus ranch and attended public schools in Orosi, graduating, with honors, from Orosi High School in 1974. Over the next few years Peggy attended College of the Sequoias in Visalia and at this time began to ponder a career in veterinary medicine. She worked in both small and large animal veterinary hospitals in her spare time. She then enrolled at the University of California, Davis. While attending UC Davis, she felt in her heart that pursuing a career as a nurse was what she was meant to do. After one year at UC Davis she transferred to Fresno State, earning her Bachelor’s Degree in 1979 and entered the Nursing Program. She earned her RN (Registered Nurse) degree in 1983 and we were all reminded of that as the license plate displays…PEGRN83. Peggy continued on to earn her CCRN (Critical Care Registered Nurse). “Peggy Riddle, RN, CCRN”…..Well Done!!

Peggy’s early years were spent on the ranch in Orosi where she learned to love the outdoors, whether it was riding horses and gathering cattle when she was 5 years old or working on the citrus ranch with her brother, Kevin, as the ranch transitioned from cattle to citrus production over the years. During this time she developed a love for animals; her passion for horses was always evident over the years. Peggy enjoyed riding, but making sure her nieces and nephews had the opportunity to enjoy the horses made her just as happy. She has been so generous over the years seeing to it that there were horses on the ranch to ride and supporting her nieces when they showed an interest in 4H, when they participated in horse shows and other competitions. Peggy enjoyed attending the many activities that her nieces and nephews were always involved in. Besides horse shows, you could find her in the stands at football, basketball, soccer, softball, baseball and games, as well as in the attendance of numerous concerts and theater events. She was a proud aunt, or known as “A.P.” (Aunt Peggy)

Her entire professional career was spent working at Fresno Community Hospital, now known as Community Regional Medical Center. 39 years in the Critical Care Unit of CRMC where she earned the admiration and respect from everyone she came in contact with. Peggy had a positive impact on so many. Patients and their families experienced her expert care, knowledge, and kindness. Many young people considering a nursing career often consulted with Peggy and ended up choosing so because of Peggy’s mentoring. She leaves a great legacy from her professional career.

Peggy also loved traveling the world. She had so many fond memories of her travels with family, especially with “Mother.” Whether on a trip to Scotland to see our ancestral home, or to Canada to visit family in B.C. and Alberta, various trips to Europe, or traveling the U.S, any trip she was on, was enjoyed by all of us who had a chance to travel with her.

Peggy will always be remembered by her family because family was so important to her, she was all about relationships. Peggy is survived by the family she held so dear. Her siblings, Cathie Walker, Gary Riddle, and Kevin Riddle and his wife Ann. Also survived by 7 nieces and nephews, 25 great nieces and nephews, and, at last count, 7 great great nieces and nephews. Peggy professed her faith and gave her life to Jesus at a young age. As we remember Peggy, we are comforted in the assurance that she is in Heaven now, in the presence of Jesus and loved ones. A life well lived!

A graveside service will be held in her memory at 10:00 am on Monday, November 4th at Smith Mountain Cemetery, Dinuba, CA.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating, in Peggy’s memory, to the following organizations that Peggy cared so much about.

• Happy Trails Riding Academy : happytrailsridingacademy.org

• BCHC: Back Country Horseman of California bchcalifornia.org

• Immanuel Schools: immanuelschools.com