MARGARET A. (WARD) RIDDLE

Tiffin native and long time resident Margaret A. (Ward) Riddle, 85, passed peacefully on June 1, 2010 after a long battle with surgical complications. Margaret had resided in Williamsburg, Virginia since 2008, but had been in the Riverside Hospital in Newport News, Virginia since having surgery in early January.

Margaret was born in Tiffin on October 31, 1924 to Frank D. and Mildred A. (Lutz) Ward, who preceded her in death. She was married on September 19, 1947, to Carl. R. Riddle of Tiffin, who preceded her in death in 2003. Margaret is survived by two brothers Kenneth Ward (Peg) of Tiffin and Arthur Ward (Shirley) of Kokomo, Indiana; a sister Phyllis Wisebaker (Robert) of Tiffin; a daughter Janet Anspaugh (William) of Holland, Michigan; a son Steven Riddle (Sydney) of Williamsburg, Virginia; and three granddaughters Amy Schroth of Nashville, Tennessee, Tracy Riddle of Fairfax, Virginia, and Stephanie Riddle of Brooklyn, New York.

Margaret graduated from Columbian High School in 1942 and followed her father, Frank, into banking, working first as a teller at the old First National Bank and later at the Commercial National Bank (now Fifth Third) Six's Corner and Westgate branches. She was also a member of Lady Lions, Order of Eastern Star Chapter 189, the Columbian 42nd Club and the Washington Street United Methodist Church in Tiffin.

Margaret traveled extensively within the U.S. on numerous family vacations, as well as in later years with Carl in their motor home. She made sure the family took advantage of a year spent in Nuremburg, Germany insisting they traveled to a new place nearly every weekend. Margaret and Carl also visited Steve and his family in 1990 when they lived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Margaret was well known for her piano playing, which she started at age 4. She had been the subject of a "Seniors on the Go" article in the Advertiser-Tribune in 1995. Prior to moving to Virginia, she had been the accompanist for the Kiwanas Manor choir for several years, and regularly played for other groups such as Eastern Star. After moving to Williamsburg she frequently played piano for a wide variety of events and programs at the Chambrel Retirement Community where she resided.

Margaret made the decision to move to Williamsburg to be close to family, even though it meant leaving her many life-long friends in Tiffin. She readily made many new friends at Chambrel, and she charmed the nursing staff at the Riverside Hospital where she spent her final months.

Margaret was very proud of her three beautiful granddaughters, who were all considered to be her "#1 Favorite". She loved the time spent with her family who would gather for joyous holidays and family events.

Margaret's funeral will be held on Saturday, June 5, 2010 at 11:00 am at the Hoffman-Gottfried-Mack Funeral Home in Tiffin officiated by Rev. Nathan Howe of the Washington Street UMC. Burial will follow the funeral at the Pleasant Union Cemetery in Old Fort where she will be laid to rest next to her husband Carl.

The funeral will be preceded by a viewing the same day from 9:30-11:00 am at the funeral home.

A memorial service will also be held later at the Chambrel Retirement Community in Williamsburg with the Rev. Mike Meloy of the Williamsburg UMC officiating.

Condolences may be sent and the guest book signed at www.hgmackfuneralhome.com.

Memorials may be made in Margaret's name to the Washington Street United Methodist Church in Tiffin.