Orville Riddle

Orville Riddle, 92, of Severance, CO, passed away April 13, 2018. He was born March 24, 1926 in Denver, Colorado, to Orval Marion Hayes Riddle and Zella Mae Rogers. He spent his childhood years in Denver and attended West High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy during WWII and served as an aviation radioman in the Aleutian Islands from April of 1943 through December 1945. Upon returning he attended Colorado Teacher's College, in Greeley, Colorado on the GI bill where he got his degree in Fine Arts. In 1956 he completed his master's degree. While in college he met and married Betty Ruth Bader. After graduation, he and Betty moved to Fort Collins and Orville began teaching in Poudre School District in 1950. They raised a family consisting of three daughters and two sons. During his teaching career, Orville taught fine arts at Fort Collins High School, then Industrial Arts at Lincoln Junior High, Lesher Junior High and Cache La Poudre Junior High. He coached girls' softball and volleyball and boy's golf. Upon retiring from Poudre School District in 1981, Orville worked until 1991 as a superintendent for Terrell Custom Homes.

Orville and Betty served as volunteers in many capacities. They assisted in a church service at Spring Creek Health Care Center, logged hundreds of hours working at the Colorado Welcome Center, delivered groceries to shut-ins, and served at Westminster Presbyterian and First Presbyterian Churches. Orville also participated in Kiwanis, Elks and PREA.

Orville and Betty enjoyed traveling and took advantage of many of the Elderhostel trips (now called Road Scholar) that included classes with sight-seeing, as well as visiting family and watching golf tournaments. An impactful trip he took in later years was the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. to see the World War II Memorial and the other memorials.

An avid sportsman, Orville loved golfing, fishing, softball, bowling, and water fowl hunting. He and Betty attended sporting events for children, grandchildren, and even great grandchildren.

Orville is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, his brother Ray Eldon Riddle, sister Maxine E. Riddle, and brothers Roe Rogers Riddle, Don Allen Riddle and Verl Lee Riddle. He is survived by his children, Bonnie Schilling (Tim), of Severance; Jean Boyd (Arnie), of Chapman, Kansas; Marian Hall (Doug), of Fort Collins; Andy Riddle (Marci), of Severance; and Bill Riddle (Kodi), of Cave Creek, Arizona; along with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held May 9, 2018 at Drake Road Christian Church, 608 E. Drake Rd., Fort Collins, at 1:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Pathways Hospice.