Ralph Ridenour

Ralph G. Ridenour, 82, of Mansfield, died August 3, 2015. Born November 6, 1932 in Mansfield, he was the son of Hobart Sr. and Elizabeth (Weigler) Ridenour. Ralph worked for Tappan until 1954 when he left to form Universal Refrigeration, which later grew into Universal Enterprises, Inc. Over the years, the company would be the umbrella to numerous divisions including U.E. Manufacturing, Com-Trol Division, and U.E. Refrigeration. An inventor and entrepreneur at heart, Ralph held numerous patents. A brilliant mind, he was always inventing and engineering products and processes. Ralph was proud of the family business and all of his children have worked for him at one point in their lives.

Ralph was very involved and passionate about teaching tennis to high school students seeking college scholarships. He will be remembered fondly as a master motivator and true tennis guru. With over 50 years of teaching tennis, he enjoyed watching 7 teams and 3 individuals win state championship titles. Unequaled in his passion and knowledge for teaching tennis, Ralph would assist anyone with their game but enjoyed most of all passing his love of the game onto students planning to play in college. He is an inductee of the Lakewood Racquet Club hall of fame and was listed on the U.S. Professional Tennis Registry.

Ralph was an avid but quiet supporter of Ashland University, in both immeasurable funds and time. His generosity allowed many speakers, including Margaret Thatcher, Henry Kissinger, Benjamin Netanyahu, Barbara Bush, and Dan Quail to be brought to Ashland. As a token of gratitude, the university named the Belle J. and Ralph G. Ridenour International Executive Education Center in honor of Ralph for his great contributions. In his free time, Ralph enjoyed all things mechanical. From flying his plane, navigating his boat, to riding his motorcycle, he enjoyed it all.

Surviving are his wife of 62 years, Belle (Arras) Ridenour; children, Sherrie (Robert Sherding) Ridenour, Rob (Kathleen) Ridenour, and Hollie (Phillip) McFadden; grandchildren, Erin (Mike) Ridenour-Kalal, Ryan (Jessi) Ridenour, Krista (Brian) Schmidt, Kelly (Doug) Anschutz, Cameron (Christy) Sherding, and Megan McFadden; great grandchildren, Christian and Beckett Kalal, Ella and Jakob Schmidt, Brady and Baron Anschutz, Isla and Evelyn Sherding, and Kyan and Adison McFadden; and sister, Thelma (Carl Sr.) Duffner.

Along with his parents, Ralph was preceded in death by his sisters, Arlene Wright, Carol Lee Walls, and Patricia Rasnack; and brothers, Hobart Ridenour Jr., Richard Ridenour, and Ronald Ridenour.

Family and friends are invited to visit on Thursday, August 6, 2015 from 3-8 p.m.at the Ontario Home of Wappner Funeral Directors, 100 S. Lexington Springmill Road, Ontario. Funeral services will be held Friday, August 7, 2015 at 10 a.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Ralph G. Ridenour Memorial Tennis Fund in care of any Richland Bank Location.