Carol Anne Ridenour, age 83, of Shelby, passed away August 9, 2024 at Lutheran Village Assisted Living in Ashland, Ohio surrounded by her loving family.

Born February 3, 1941, in Shelby, to the late James Warren and Teresa Victorine (Wagner) Kaylor, she had been a lifelong area resident. Carol graduated from Tiro High School in 1959 where she had been active in athletics, earning her varsity letter, was a member of the honor society and yearbook staff as well as class secretary. After graduation, she worked for Tiro schools as a secretary and cafeteria manager. During the summer of 1960, Carol worked at AMF in Shelby, where she met and later married Charles R. “Chuck” Ridenour. While she took great pride in her work, family was always most important to her and she left the workforce after her first child was born in 1961 to focus on raising her family.

Always one to stay busy, Carol enjoyed a variety of hobbies including different forms of needlework, crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, taking pictures, watching CSPAN and politics on TV, and was a football fan who proudly supported the San Francisco 49ers. Most of all though, she was a proud gardener. In her backyard garden, Carol grew award winning iris plants that were regular contestants in the annual Iris Show at Kingwood Center. Later in life, she used her green thumb to help her neighbors tend to their flower beds at Park Village.

Carol also loved to travel, taking many bus tour trips and visiting places like Niagara Falls, Mount Rushmore, Savannah, Frankenmuth, Longwood Gardens, and New York City. With her family, she enjoyed visiting Hocking Hills but he especially enjoyed spending summers at various cottages at Lake Erie where she could be found walking the pier in Huron or enjoying a spinach salad at Berardi’s.

As a lifelong member, the Most Pure Heart of Mary Church was a large part of Carol’s life. Through the years, she could be found working BINGO, preparing funeral dinners, making afghans to raffle for the church bazaars, and enjoyed helping in classrooms and the library. As a master gardener, she enjoyed sharing her garden with those around her – many kids that went to St. Mary’s School will remember going on a short walk “field trip” to see the beautiful iris in her garden on Auburn Ave. With her love for the church and giving back to others, it was fitting that her favorite holiday was Christmas. She loved cooking and baking, going caroling, and attending Midnight Mass. The excitement of little ones at Christmas brought her tremendous joy.

Left to cherish her memory are Carol’s beloved children: Carl (Rhonda) Ridenour of Shelby, Craig (Tanya) Ridenour of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, and Cathy (Dave) Green of Shelby; daughter-in-law Pam Ridenour; nine grandchildren: Charlie (Janey) Ridenour, Brooke (Alex) Alt, Blake Ridenour, Chelsea (Shane) Myers, Austin Ridenour, Sara Ridenour, Dejay Velli, Jordan Green, and Logan Green; great-grandchildren, Addi Alt, Mason Alt, and Gwen Myers; brother, David (Judy) Kaylor; brother-in-law Denny Curry; and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by the father of her children, Charles R. Ridenour Sr.; son, Charles Ridenour Jr.; infant brother, James Karl Kaylor; and a sister, Linda J. Curry.

Family and friends may call from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM on Friday August 16h at the Barkdull Funeral Home & Crematory in Shelby. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church on Saturday, August 17th at 11:00AM with Father Chris Mileski officiating. Interment will follow mass at Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Cemetery.

Carol was a Whippet at heart and followed her children and grandchildren’s athletic and academic endeavors closely. In memory of her son, the Chuck Ridenour Whippet Award fund was established to award scholarships to graduating Shelby seniors that exemplify what it means to be a Whippet. A donation to this fund in her name instead of floral tributes would be meaningful to her family. Follow link: www.theshelbyfoundation.org/current-funds/ and click “Chuck Ridenour Whippet Award” to make a donation.

Carol’s family would like to thank Gentiva Hospice for the care and comfort provided to Carol during her final weeks.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.barkdullfuneralhome.com

Funeral Home: Barkdull Funeral Home & Crematory

Website: www.barkdullfuneralhome.com