Kelsey Riddle

November 19, 1911-January 19, 2012

Kelsey B. Riddle, 100, passed away Thursday, January 19 after a brief illness. He was the son of Ida Kate Hopgood Riddle and Henry Fairfax Riddle of Union County, Kentucky and later of Evansville, Indiana. Kelsey grew up in a large family and was the youngest of eight children. His school teacher mother moved the whole family to Evansville when Kelsey was in the lower grades because she wanted them to have a good education and more work opportunities. Kelsey attended Columbia Elementary School and after completing high school at Evansville Central in 1930, attended Evansville College.

Kelsey worked at Mead Johnson & Company for 46 years. He retired in November, 1976 after working in the Quality Control Laboratory for most of this time. Mead Johnson was a huge part of Kelsey’s life. He enjoyed the many friends he made, the annual picnics, and after retirement, exercising at the Mead Johnson Exercise Facility. He loved to tell the stories about the people he worked with over the years and remembered many details and names. Kelsey always felt it was such an honor to be able to work for this company and he was proud to have a long association.

Kelsey survived his wife of 69 years, Dorothy, who passed away in July of 2009. He is survived by his daughters, Sandra Churchill of Bloomington and Betty Barchet and son, Daniel Riddle of Evansville and their spouses Fred Churchill, Ralph Barchet and Terri McCormick; six grandchildren; John Smith, Brendan Smith, Lisa (Barchet) O’Reilly, Barbara (Barchet) Hoover and Carl and Neal Riddle, and two step grandchildren Matt McCormick and Jennifer McCormick. He is also survived by seven great-grandchildren, Sarah Smith, Emilee and Kelly Smith, Claire and Owen O’Reilly and Luke and Paige Hoover and two step great-grandchildren.

Throughout his life Kelsey had a spirit of giving to his community. As a longtime member of Bethany Christian Church he served on many committees and as an elder. He was the first treasurer of the German Township volunteer Fire Department and a member of the German Township Booster Club. He also served on the volunteer fire department and served meals with Meals on Wheels. After retirement Kelsey volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and was a member of the “Wednesday Work Crew” since its inception. He “retired” in 2000.

Kelsey also believed strongly in good health and he exercised and swam almost every weekday at the YMCA and later exercised at the Mead Johnson Fitness Center. He was an avid believer that it was important to exercise for mental and physical well-being and keeping your body moving. He not only exercised at the Mead Johnson Facility but he also enjoyed visiting with all of the friends he made there.

For many years Kelsey traveled with his wife Dorothy and many of their friends to the far reaches of the world with the Colton Travel Group. He enjoyed seeing and having a greater appreciation of the wider world.

As a husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, Kelsey was a role model for all of the family. He taught through example how to live your life and how to have fun.

The family would like to express their sincere thanks to Kelsey’s long time physician Dr. Lawrence Judy who gave him such excellent care for so many years. The family would also like to thank the staff on Harbor Unit, Heritage Center for their great care and kindness.

A service honoring Kelsey’s life will be celebrated on Monday, January 23, 2012 at Heritage Chapel, Alexander Memorial Park Cemetery, Mesker Park Drive, Evansville, IN. Friends are invited to join the family for a service at 11:00AM. There will be viewing on Sunday, January 22, 2012 from 2:00PM until 6:00PM at Alexander Funeral Home West and from 10:00AM until service time on Monday at the cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions honoring Kelsey’s life can be made to Bethany Christian Church, 601 E. Mill Rd., Evansville, IN. 47711.

Condolences may be made online at www.AlexanderWestChapel.com.