He had been in declining health for the past several months. He made his home at 350 Shiloh Road, Statesville. He was born July 13, 1919, in Pensacola, near Asheville, and was the son of the late Richmond Carlyle and Bertha Mae Blankenship Riddle. He married Rosie Givens on April 30, 1938. She preceded him in death Sept. 25, 2009. Mr. and Mrs. Riddle made their home in Kannapolis, and both were employed at Cannon Mills. In 1947, he and his family moved to their present home on Shiloh Road. He was employed at JC Penney Distribution Center and retired after 35 years of service. Mr. Riddle proudly served his country in the Army during WWII as a field medic. His tour of duty included Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe. His decorations included five bronze service stars. Earl was a faithful member of Shiloh United Methodist Church, at 742 Shiloh Road, Statesville. As long as his health permitted, he attended church every Sunday and supported the church with his presence and his prayers. He served as a faithful Sunday school teacher for many years and was a certified lay speaker for the United Methodist Church. Mr. Riddle always spoke freely about his faith, and his genuine concern for the spiritual well-being of the community has been deeply appreciated by friends and family. Mr. Riddle will be remembered especially for his love for God, family, country and friends. The twinkle in his bright blue eyes was his trademark.
Left to cherish his memory are children, William Earl Riddle Jr., Judy Riddle Tucker and husband, Don, and Harold Rabon Riddle and wife, Marilyn; grandchildren, Larry Tucker, Kevin Tucker and wife, Beth, Lance Riddle and wife, Sorina, Rhonda R. Blevins and husband, Steve, Nancy R. Morgan (Todd Hall), Mark Goodin and wife, Lea Anne; great-grandchildren, Peyton Tucker, expected Baby Tucker, Atasha Kennedy and husband, D.J., Chris Blevins, Hailey Blevins, Alayna Goodin, Chathan Goodin and Christian Goodin; great-great grandchildren, Ava Kennedy and Daron Kennedy; his sister, Virginia Riddle Pierce, and husband, Freddie; and sister-in-law, Letha Riddle, all of Statesville. Awaiting to welcome him into heaven are those who preceded him in death. In addition to his loving wife and parents, he was preceded in death by great-grandson, Garret Jayce Tucker; two sisters, Ollie McMahan and Aline Riddle; and three brothers, Vaughn Riddle, Wallace Riddle and the Rev. Wayne Riddle.
Services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at Shiloh UMC with the Rev. David Reep, the Rev. John Kale, the Rev. Tom Corbell and Rabon Riddle officiating. Burial will follow in the adjacent church cemetery with military honors. Pallbearers will be Lance Riddle, Steve Blevins, O'Neal Riddle, Doug Millsaps, Larry Campbell and Carroll McMahan.
The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the fellowship hall of Shiloh Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memory of Earl to the Garret Jayce Tucker Memorial Playground Fund (Shiloh UMC), c/o Larry Tucker, 346 Shiloh Road, Statesville, NC 28677; or to Gordon Hospice House, 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com.
Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.
The family would like to thank the staff of Hospice, the staff of Gentiva, Dr. C.K. Lai and staff, Dr. Pam Scholar and staff, and all those who gave such loving care and compassion to Earl in his last few months. Special thanks to Earl's caregivers: Faye Perry, granddaughter, Rhonda Blevins, and grandson, Larry Tucker.
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