Louella May Ridenour, 92 years, of Kunkle, passed away Monday, April 18, 2016, in Community Hospitals and Wellness Centers, Bryan Hospital. Louella was born April 26, 1923 in Fulton County, Ohio, the daughter of the late Alva LeRoy and Estella (Vance) Durham. She was a 1941 graduate of Bryan High School. Louella married Marvin “Shorty” Maier on July 26, 1943 in New London, Connecticut, and he was killed in action during World War II. She then married Merl O. Ridenour on May 26, 1946 in Hicksville, Ohio and he preceded her in death on August 17, 2010. Louella was a hard worker and worked in her own home while raising five children. She attended Bethlehem Christian Union Church in Edon. Louella was a member of the former Cardinal Study Club and a former member of the Pioneer VFW Post 8628 Ladies Auxiliary. She had a wide variety of interests including reading, painting by numbers, bird watching, and taking care of her flower gardens. Louella enjoyed increasing her vocabulary. She often kept a dictionary under the seat of her sofa and when she didn’t know the meaning of a word she would look it up.
Surviving are her four children, Nadine (Jake) Snyder of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Anna Ridenour of Kunkle, Ohio, Lois Knape of Kunkle, Ohio, and David (Jane) Ridenour of Bowling Green, Ohio; six Grandchildren and eight Great-Grandchildren; one sister, Erma Showers of Akron, Ohio. Louella was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands, Marvin “Shorty” Maier and Merl O. Ridenour; one son, Michael Ridenour; three brothers, Glen, Clayton and Carl Durham, and one sister, Laverne Steingas.
Visitation for Louella May Ridenour will be held Friday, April 22, 2016, from 4:00-6:00 p.m. in the Oberlin-Turnbull Funeral Home-Greenisen Chapel, 225 East High Street, Bryan, where funeral services will begin at 6:00 p.m. with Pastor Devon Strine officiating. Interment will be private.
Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider memorial contributions be made to The Battle Buddy Foundation, who help provide service dogs for veterans, 8859 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, Suite 202, West Chester, Ohio 45069.
Condolences may be sent to the family or the online guest book may be signed at www.oberlinturnbull.com