Charles Leon Riddle, age 87, of Ozark, Mo, passed away Thursday, June 21, 2012. He was born June 5, 1925, in Cassville, Mo, to Charles & Audra (Moore) Riddle. He was a member of South Haven Baptist Church.
He served in the U.S. Navy during WW II in the Asian Pacific. His ship, Mt. Olympus, was docked in Tokyo Bay to witness the signing of the Japanese surrender.
He attended Oklahoma Baptist University, University of Arkansas and Southwestern Seminary, Louisville, Ky. He was ordained in 1947. He also taught high school English and Journalism for many years. He pastored for over sixty years beginning with a church in Ky while in seminary, and many churches throughout Missouri including Memorial in Columbia, Grant Avenue, Springfield and First Baptist, Neosho. He served as Minister of Senior Adults at Second Baptist, Springfield and most recently enjoyed teaching the Fitzpatrick-Riddle Sunday School Class at South Haven Baptist Church, Springfield.
In his lifetime he also served as the first Director of Royal Ambassadors for the State of Missouri and later in life was invited by one of his former students to give the prayer for the opening of the regular session of the Missouri General Assembly, 2003.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Elma (Cook) Riddle, his parents, and one brother Verdayne Riddle. He is survived by his wife Virginia Riddle, Ozark, Mo, two sons, Charles Leon Riddle, Michael David Riddle and his wife Jan, Springfield, Mo, a grandson Collin Christopher Riddle, a brother Larry Gene Riddle and his wife Beverly, Wheaton, Mo, and sister-in-law Evelyn Riddle, Cassville, Mo.
Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 26, 2012, at Greenlawn Funeral Home North, Springfield, Mo, with Pastor Ryan Palmer Officiating. Burial will be held in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, Springfield, Mo. Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Monday June 25, 2012, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ozark Baptist Home or Missouri Baptist Children’s Home. Services have been entrusted to Greenlawn Funeral Home, North, Springfield, Mo. Online condolences may be made at www.greenlawnfuneralhome.com.