Christine Riddle

Elizabeth W. “Christine” Riddle, age 92, passed away at her daughter’s home in Hoover, AL. Her son and her daughter were at her bedside. She was born the 7th child of 9 children in Calera, AL. Her father died in a car wreck when she was 7. She and her siblings helped their mother with the titanic task of raising 9 children during the Great Depression of ‘29.

She graduated from Ashland High School in Clay County where she was a cheer leader and played on the women’s softball team. Upon graduation she worked as a supervisor at DuPont Company in Old Hickory, Tennessee.

She married her high school sweetheart, Jefferson W. “Jeff” Riddle while he was a student at Vanderbilt University, Tennessee. She worked to help put her husband through school. They later moved to Dayton, Ohio where Jeff completed a Master’s degree in aero-mechanical engineering.

After Jeff, a long-time Air Force pilot, left the service, they came to live in Huntsville in 1955. They joined First Baptist Church of Huntsville where they were also members of the Hallelujah Choir. She developed a reputation as a loving Christian lady full of dignity and grace.

She was elected President of Huntsville’s Cosmopolitan Club, a welcoming group for women new to the city. She and Jeff jointly owned Riddle Furniture Store where she sold furniture and appliances and conducted cooking classes for Amana microwave ovens; then a brand new technology.

After they closed the store in the mid 80’s, she continued selling furniture for Marks-Fitzgerald Furniture and was one of their top salespersons even in her 70’s. She was selected Salesperson of the Year in 1987 by the Sales and Marketing Club of North Alabama.

Christine was a wonderful wife, mother, sister, and friend. She took pride in raising her family and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. Christine enjoyed golf and bowling; once bowling a 300 game. She played in bridge club with her friends. Her countless acts of kindness touched many lives. She maintained her great sense of humor to the end of her life.

Christine was preceded in death by her mother, Lillian B. Wesley, her father, Callie Wesley, and by her eight siblings – 5 brothers and 3 sisters. Her brothers were Carroll Wesley, LaValle Wesley, Bloise W. Wesley, Corbet Wesley, and Byron Wesley. Her sisters were Nell W. Belcher, Obera W. Fain, and Alva Rhea W. Dukes.

Survivors include her daughter, Rebecca “Becky” Riddle Bloomberg , living in Hoover, AL, and her son Robert “Bob” Riddle, living in Jacksonville, FL. She is also survived by a host of nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 2:00p – 4:00p on this Saturday, March 18th at Southern Heritage Funeral Home on Cahaba Valley Road in Birmingham. A service celebrating her life will be held at 4:00pm. The burial will be in Huntsville, AL at Maple Hill Cemetery on Sunday, March 19th. A short graveside service will be held at 1:00pm.

Her children wish to give special thanks to New Beacon Hospice and her loving caregivers. She always had a wink and a smile for them.