Craig Eugene Riddle

Craig is preceded in death by his dad, Thomas C. Riddle, and his grandparents, Rev. C.E. and Ruth Riddle and Alice Oliver.

He is survived by his mom, Nancy Riddle, four sisters and brother-in-laws: Denise and Matt Alves, Pamela and Gage Lawley, Janet and JP Shaw, and Gayle and Anthony Mendoza, and 14 nieces and nephews: Courtney (Alves) and Jacob Henning, Natalie Alves, Kelsey Alves, Madeline Alves, Cade Lawley, Briahna Mendoza, Levi Shaw, Jace Mendoza, Allison Shaw, Ryel Lawley, Farrah Mendoza, Mason Mendoza, Creed Alves, and Merritt Alves.

Craig spent his earliest years in neighboring towns, and moved to Lincoln, CA, in 1985, the month he turned 8. Soon after, he joined his first Little League baseball team, the Dukes. He continued playing baseball throughout his school years. In Jr. High and High School, he added wrestling and football. After high school, Craig attended Sierra College, earning an Associates of Science degree while serving as the school student body vice president. He later attended the Divers Institute of Technology in Seattle, graduating with honors and receiving several awards.

In 2012, he moved to Alaska and loved it. The family frequently received pictures and videos of wild animals walking through his neighborhood, icy roads he drove trucks and equipment across, and thermometers showing negative temperatures. He was in his element, and swore to never leave. But, he made the sacrifice to return to the heat of California when our dad was sick with cancer in 2021. He moved back home to assist with care giving. After Dad’s passing in March of 2022, he stayed on to help care for our mom, whose dementia was advancing steadily. He had just recently returned to the Alaskan temperatures he loved so much.

Craig was a kind soul with a sense of humor that ran deep, and a faith in Jesus that ran even deeper. You could always count on him for a good laugh… always. There was never a doubt that he would do whatever he could to help you or anyone else. And, he lived his life leaning in to the constant hope of Jesus.

We invite you to join us in celebrating his life at a graveside funeral service being held on Friday, 4/14/23, at 11:30am, at Manzanita Cemetery. A memorial lunch will be served following the service. (To assist us in planning, rsvp’s via text or voicemail to 916-295-2655 would be very much appreciated. )

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.lincolnfuneralchapel.com for the Riddle family.