Freeman Edward Riddle Sr., 89, of Sherwood passed away Thursday, September 30, at NorthPointe Woods in Battle Creek, MI.
The family will receive friends for visitation Tuesday, October 5, 2021 from 4:00-8:00 p.m at Dutcher Funeral Home in Coldwater with Masonic Rights to be held at 7:30 p.m.
A funeral service for Freeman will be held Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Coldwater with Pastor Mark Case officiating.
Graveside services will be held at 2:30 p.m. at the Sherwood Township Cemetery.
He was born August 20, 1932 to Ervin and Blynn (Moore) Riddle in Kendallville, IN. In 1956 Freeman married Kay L. Spoor in Coldwater and she preceded him in death on July 20, 2015. On June 11, 2016 he married Easter M. Kennedy-Riddle in Three Rivers and she survives.
Freeman proudly served in the United States Army. After his honorable discharge, he worked nights at the State School in Coldwater and used the GI bill to attend Tri-State University during the day, where he achieved his Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Freeman commented many times, “with the top end speed of my Studebaker Power Hawk I always made it to class on time”. After attaining his degree, Freeman accepted a position at Boeing Company, moving his family to Seattle Washington, where he worked on several projects including missile development support.
When John F. Kennedy challenged Americans to be on the moon within this decade, Freeman, then 29, accepted an assignment to move cross country to New Orleans, LA and prepare the Michoud Tank Plant for a conceptual launch platform for NASA. Freeman said, “I would have been here sooner but I had to wait for the birth of my son”. From 1962-69 he worked for NASA, Boeing Aerospace Division as the chief facilities plant engineer for the Saturn V rocket, while attending LSU-NO, working on his MBA. His name is listed on the honor roll at the Smithsonian for his work on this project.
After the safe return of Apollo 11, he looked for other challenges. His desire to get back to the farm, led him to move his family to Horicon, WI where he farmed nights working for Allis Chalmers in West Alice during the day. He traveled worldwide working on projects, once working behind the iron-curtain in Czechoslovakia on a city power plant for many weeks.
In 1972, Freeman’s father-in-law Chuck Spoor was retiring and sold Freeman his part of Spoor & Parlin, Inc, a John Deere dealership in Athens, Mi. He once again moved his family, buying a farm in Sherwood, MI where he resided until his death. He owned and operated Spoor & Parlin, and again farmed at night.
During that time, he accepted a position on the board of Southern Michigan Bank & Trust where he was recently recognized for 45 years of faithful service. Freeman and his wife Kay traveled extensively throughout the world, including Europe, Australia, and Russia. In his later years, he went on to achieve his 32nd Degree Mason and was a Mizpah Shriner, where he served a term as Potentate for Coldwater. He was also a member of the Coldwater American Legion.
Freeman will be remembered most by friends and family for his infamous saying, “do it anyway, it’s good for your development”. He will be dearly missed by his family and many friends.
Freeman leaves behind his wife, Easter Kennedy-Riddle of Sherwood; his children Patricia K. Riddle of Sherwood, Melody (Riddle) Casault of Bronson, Freeman E. “Chip” (Anita) Riddle Jr. of Union City, Robert (Jan) Kennedy of Bellville, MI, Cindy (Nathan) Bingaman of Colon, Fred (Sandra) Kennedy of Jackson; his sisters Delores McClain of Quincy, Delight (Coy) Wise of Coldwater, Mary “Carol” (Steve) Keating of California; 3 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren and his loving nieces and nephews.
In addition to his first wife Kay, Freeman was preceded in death by his parents and one brother Raymond D. Riddle Sr.
Memorial donations are suggested to the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital, Coldwater American Legion, or the First Baptist Church in Coldwater.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Dutcher Funeral Home in Coldwater. www.dutcherfh.com
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