John IV

RIDLEY IV, John B., 92, passed away peacefully at Moultrie Creek Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in St. Augustine, Florida, on July 26th, 2013. John was born in Franklin, Tennessee, on June 25th, 1921. He graduated from Battle Ground Academy in 1939 and attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville where he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. He was an avid UT fan until the day he died. With war clouds gathering, he left UT and went to work for the Remington Arms Company at the Lake City Ordnance plant in Kansas City, Missouri, making defense munitions. In 1942 he entered the army, serving in several branches. In 1944, while a member of the 76th Infantry, he served in the European Theatre of Operations under General George Patton in the Battle of the Bulge, as well as the Rhine River and Siegfried Line campaigns. He was wounded in Zeitz, Germany, near the Czechoslovakian border. After the war, he returned to Nashville and worked in the building industry. For 14 years, he served on the Nashville Homebuilders Association Council, of which he was President and Man of the Year in 1974. John loved his family, was deeply loved by them, and will be greatly missed. Survivors include his children: twin daughters, Nancy Stavropulos (Tim) and Virginia Marciano (Larry). He has seven grandchildren: Michele Slater, Alicia Schultheis (John), Sheri Gibson (Bill), Larry Marciano (Alicia), Anthony Marciano (Kristina), John Marciano (Charlene), and Virginia Finley (Dan). His 11 great grandchildren Include: Maia, Ella, & Noah Schultheis; Max & Ridley Gibson; Celia & Olivia Marciano; Hudson & Nicholas Marciano; and Michael & Emily Marciano. He was predeceased by his wife Elizabeth Ridley and his parents, Joseph Lee and Virginia Terrell Ridley. Funeral services will be held at 2:00PM Thursday, August 1, 2013 at Williamson Memorial Funeral Home, Jim Taylor officiating. Visitation will be held 4-8PM Wednesday and one hour prior to the service. Burial in Mt. Hope Cemetery. A Memorial Service will be held in St. Augustine, Florida, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in John's memory may be made to the veteran's charity of your choice: Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, or the Wounded Warrior Project. The family wishes to thank the staff at Moultrie Creek for their loving care of John. WILLIAMSON MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME 615-794-2289 www.williamsonmemorial.com

Visitation Details

Wednesday, July 31st, 2013 4:00pm - 8:00pm, Williamson Memorial Funeral Home

Thursday, August 1st, 2013 1:00pm - 2:00pm, Williamson Memorial Funeral Home

Service Information

Thursday, August 1st, 2013 2:00pm, Williamson Memorial Funeral Home

Interment Details

Mt. Hope Cemetery