Bobbette "Bobbie" J. Ridenour

Bobbette “Bobbie” Juanne Ridenour a resident of Grace Village Retirement Community in Winona Lake, Indiana passed away at 7:50 p.m. on Friday, November 26, 2021 at Grace Village Health Care at the age of 92.

She was born on October 12, 1929 in Fort Wayne, Indiana to Kathryn Jane (Osborn) Ryder and William Ernest Ryder.  On March 29, 1981 Bobbie married Gene Ridenour and celebrated 23 years of anniversaries before he passed away on July 9, 2004.

Bobbie graduated from South Side High School in Fort Wayne and continued her studies at Fort Wayne Bible College (renamed Taylor University) graduating in 1953.  Bobbie has been a resident of Kosciusko County, Indiana for the past 70 years.  She was definitely a full-blooded Christian woman who LOVED to serve her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  She was a longtime member of Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church in Winona Lake, Indiana where she was heavily involved in church ministries.  She was a Sunday School Teacher from 1952-1969; board member of the Christian Education of Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church from 1969-1972, Children’s Church Chairman from 1972-1973; office manager of the Christian Education Dept. of the Brethren Herald from 1957 – 1977; treasurer of the Lakeland Audubon Society from 1972-1974.  Bobbie was also the recipient of the National Secretarial award for Letter Writing in 1958; and worked as the secretary for the Brethren Missionary Herald Company from 1954-June 1957 and 1978 – 1981.  She worked most of her life as the secretary of the C.E. National Brethren Fellowship, worked for a number of years at the Herald Bookstore and volunteered at the Adult Alternative Learning Center.   Bobbie was a lively and kind lady, full of love for everyone and she will be dearly missed by all.

She leaves behind two sons:  Randy Ridenour (North Webster, Indiana); Tim Ridenour (Butler, Indiana); four daughters:  Julie (Terry) Day (Sidney, Indiana); Kim (Brian) Cripe (Claypool, Indiana); Amy (Ron) Travis (Fort Wayne, Indiana); and Krisi Edmiston (Warsaw, Indiana).  Also surviving are her five special nephews and nieces:  David (Wendy) Osborn (Fort Wayne, Indiana); Jonathan (Linda) Osborn (Fort Wayne, Indiana); Tracy Osborn (Fort Wayne, Indiana); Sharon (Dan) Wheeler (Maryland); Marilyn Frick (Wisconsin) ; seventeen grandchildren; and twenty-one great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and her brother, Billy.           

Bobbie’s life will be celebrated at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church, 1200 Kings Highway, Winona Lake, Indiana and officiated by Pastor Bruce Barlow.  Private burial will take place at Lindenwood Cemetery, Fort Wayne, Indiana.  Arrangements were entrusted to Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, Indiana.  

Memorials donations may be directed to Grace Village Retirement Community, 337 Grace Village Drive, Winona Lake, Indiana  46590. 

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