Ruth Edith (Dobek) Ridenhour
COLUMBIA — Ruth Edith (Dobek) Ridenhour of Columbia died Monday, May 19, 2008. She was 81.
She was born March 1, 1927, in Germany to Elfriede (Kolloch) and Paul Dobek. During World War II, she fled her family home and traveled by cattle car to a refugee area near Ansbach.
She met her husband, Lt. Gene Ridenhour, while working at the Rhein-Main Air Base near Frankfurt, Germany.
They were married at the Koenig Methodist Church near Belle on Dec. 27, 1958.
Mrs. Ridenhour graduated from Brown Business School in 1959 and worked as a librarian assistant in MU’s language and literature department. She also worked in the library at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
Mrs. Ridenhour was a member of many charitable committees and particularly enjoyed her work with Missouri United Methodist Church. Her cooking skills were admired by many of her close friends and neighbors.
She is survived by one son, Gary Gene Ridenhour of Fort Hood, Texas; one daughter, Renee Tammy Ridenhour of Kansas City; one adopted sister, Bette Branson; one adopted brother, James Welch of Houston; and several grandchildren.
One brother, Waldemar Dobek, died earlier.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Services, conducted by the Rev. Jim Bryan, the Rev. Mike Will and the Rev. Otto Stenhaus, will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Missouri United Methodist Church, 204 S. Ninth St. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to the Ruth and Gene Ridenhour, M.D., MUMC Chancel Choir Fund, 204 S. Ninth St.; Option Care/Missouri River Hospice, 1410 Heriford Road Columbia, MO 65202; or the Belle (Koenig) Methodist Church, 123 County Road 708, Belle, MO 65013.
