Joe Ridge, Jr. September 19, 1917 - October 26, 2005

Joe Ridge, Jr. was born on September 19, 1917 in Pryor, Oklahoma, to the late Roxie Mae (Landrum) and Joe Ridge, Sr. He attended and graduated from school in Pryor. On October 16, 1940 he was united in marriage to Goldie Evelyn Stark, to whom he was married for 53 years. He served in the US Army during World War II, during which time he was taken Prisoner of War, subsequently liberated and awarded a Bronze Star and Purple Heart. After being honorably discharged from the US Army, he was employed by Southwestern Bell and retired from his position as an engineer in 1980. After retiring, he moved to Bella Vista, Arkansas where he resided until June of 2005. He was a member of Bella Vista Christian Church, a member of the American Legion, a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Posts, a member of the Telephone Pioneers, and a member of the Order of the Purple Heart. He is survived by his daughter, Sharon and her husband Tommy Duncan of Tulsa; granddaughters, Whitney (Duncan) and her husband Patrick Garrett of Dewey; Tiffany (Duncan) and her husband Rodney Reiter of Mission Viejo, CA; Tracey Lynn (Ridge) Durham; great grandchildren, Taylor and Nicholas Garrett; Mathew and Megan Durham. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife; son, Donald Joe Ridge; sister, Avonel Mae (Ridge) Taylor. No services planned. Ninde Garden 742-5556. www ninde.com