Ridley was able to remain at St. Paul Retirement Community where he lived from 2009 until his death.
He is a man who honored God in his daily endeavors: by working and supporting his family while
employed at Nashville Electric Service from 1946 until retirement in 1981; by being the primary
caregiver for his wife, Marjorie Sullivan Ridley until her death in 1999 while they were living in Venice,
FL; by serving his country in WWII in the United States Navy as a Lieutenant (jg) from 1943 until 1946,
having been assigned to a mine-sweeping ship in the Asiatic-Pacific and American Theaters for
which he received the Victory Medal.
Mr. Ridley was born in Smyrna, TN on May 4, 1922 to Frank W. and Catharine T. Ridley. He received his
B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Tennessee Technical University in 1943, a portion of this education
was at Georgia Technical University. Mr. Ridley was a member of the Illuminating Engineering Society
and the Electric League of Nashville. He also was a member of Smyrna Presbyterian (TN), Venice
Presbyterian (FL) and Hillwood Presbyterian (Nashville, TN) churches, serving as elder, deacon and
teacher over the years. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Mr. Ridley was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie Sullivan Ridley; his son, William H. Ridley, Jr.; his
sister and brother-in-law, Joe and Edith Ridley Earls; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Fred and
Imogene (Jean) Schatz. He is survived by his son, Roy (wife, Marcia) Ridley; by grandson, Travis J. Ridley
(son of Bill, Jr.); by great-grandsons, Isaiah Ridley and Brendan Young (sons of Travis); by daughter-in-
law, Cheryl Ridley (widow of Bill, Jr.) and former daughter-in-law, Barbara Ridley; by his sister, Natalie
Ridley Shearin; by nephews, Bob Schatz, Jeffery Earls; by nieces, Lynn Becker, Jane Lee, Cathy Turner,
Amy Miller, and Elaine Zeanah; and by two very special life-long friends: Louise “Tiddle” (Mrs. Rodney)
Thomas and Howard Herndon.
Mr. Ridley’s final days were made comfortable by the faithful, extraordinary, loving care of Marie Scott,
Marilyn Hardy, Mattie Danaby, Tasha Grant, and Tracy Harris. These women are amazing!! He received
exceptional end-of-life care from Alive Hospice (Thanks to compassionate, knowledgeable staff like
Pennie, RN; Theresa, LCSW; Chaplain Dahl Johnson and CNA’s). All of his care was managed by LifeLinks
staff (Provided by a caring staff, full of integrity and grace: Jodi Foster, RN, CCM; Katherine Sevino, RN;
Rhonda King, RN; Melissa Burton, LCSW; Jo Singer, RPT, case manager). The family of Mr. Ridley wishes
to thank each person for the blessing they were to “Mr. Bill” and to us! We are so very grateful for each
of you!
There will be a Celebration of Life at 10:00 AM, Saturday, 8/18/18, in the drawing room of St. Paul
Retirement Community, 5031 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN, followed by light refreshments and greeting
the family. The inurnment will be at 2 PM at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, 1101 Lebanon Road, Nashville, TN.
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