Ethel Elizabeth Riddle

Mrs. Ethel Elizabeth Simmons Riddle, age 90, of Mt. Airy passed away Friday, February 28, 2020, at Moses Cone Hospital.  Mrs. Riddle was born in Surry County on July 31, 1929, to Edgar and Della Moorefield Simmons.  Mrs. Riddle was a loving mother, grandmother and homemaker, the amazing wife that truly took care of everything.  She was a wonderful seamstress, making her daughters clothing as they grew up; and she crocheted and made lap throws for shut-ins with the Ruritans, in which she was a member for several years.  Mrs. Riddle enjoyed reading and was well-known for canning the many cans of green beans and other vegetables from the garden.  Spending time with her grandchildren was always one of her greatest joys.  She attended Tom’s Creek Primitive Baptist Church as long as her health permitted.  Surviving are daughters and a son-in-law, Anna R. Rose; Denise R. Cox and husband, Pasquale Di Bari; a son, Raymond Riddle, Jr.; grandchildren, Martin Cox and wife Samantha, Travis Cox and fiancée, Kelly Garris, Brian Rose and fiancée, Kai Moore and Adam Rose and wife Amy; eight great grandchildren; a brother, Lester Simmons; brother-in-law, Charles Melvin Riddle and wife, Merle, several special nieces, nephews and friends including the wonderful staff of Camden Health and Rehab..  In addition to her parents, Mrs. Riddle was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Riddle, Sr., sons-in-law, Richard Rose and Charlie F. Cox, and brothers, Richard and Quincy Simmons.  Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Tuesday, March 3, 2020 at Moody Funeral Home Chapel by Elder Jimmy Joyce.  Entombment will follow in Skyline Memory Gardens Mausoleum.  The family will receive friends at the funeral home Tuesday from 1:00 PM until the time of the service.  

MEMORIES

She was born in Westfield to a loving family, with three big brothers, Richard, Quincy and Lester. I’m sure she got a lot of big brother teasing back in the early years. Of course, she always said she was probably spoiled since she was the only girl and the youngest.

They were a farming family, so I guess that’s where she got her love of planting and gardening.  She would work in the tobacco fields just like the boys, especially after they left home and grandpa needed her help. She would say that she didn’t like the “suckering” part, where you go out in the field and breaking off   the bad leaves and flowers on the plants so they can grow better, kind of a sticky job.  If you have ever been around tobacco barns, you will remember the women twining tobacco leaves on large sticks, which then are handed person to person until the rafters are filled with leaves, and the barn is heated to cure. That was such a wonderful time to see the results of a hard day’s work. The smell was intoxicating. Her brother, Lester, who is 96 years old will tell you such, as he still smokes cigars every day.  It was also a great time for children to play in the hay and ride the mules as they pulled the slay that brought the leaves to the barn .

Since she was the youngest and her older brothers were already reaching adulthood, some already were married, she was very close to her nephews and nieces. They loved her to babysit them and play with them and help them with their school work.

She was an excellent student, avid reader, loved history and helped run the school library. She was very proud of her straight A’s and of graduating from Westfield School as class historian.

She liked being outside instead of cooking in the kitchen. Her mom would cook for everyone and make a sack of sugar cookies as a special treat. They were delicious. However, when she got married, Dad always said he had to teach her how to cook. Dad was a great cook. Mom liked to make desserts. She baked the best pound cakes and would pack Dad’s lunch with a piece of cake every day. We even had a piece sometimes for our breakfast.

She was accepted and was going to business school, but that all changed when she met the love of her life, Raymond. They were married and farmed for a little while, until Dad decided that the paychecks were too far apart and too uncertain for him. They both loved to plant big gardens and had lots of flowers around. Dad went back to his family roots, which was working in construction. Mom being a good wife would move us all to the places his jobs dictated. So we moved a lot at first, until we settled in Greensboro so that we kids could stay in one place for school. Denise remembers that Mom always straighten  up before Dad got home and put on some lipstick for that welcome home smooch. 

Mom loved to sew and do embroidery and crochet. She was a great seamstress and even our teachers were amazed at the things she would make for us. Since all her grandchildren were boys, she made blue terry cloth bathrobes and denim work aprons for all of them including for Dad, Dickie and Charlie.  All of her children and grand-children have at least one crocheted afghan that she made in their favorite color.

Mom had a quick wit and a humorous side. She kept the staff at Camden entertained. One thing she liked to brag about was that she had a baby that weighted 10 lbs. I asked why she kept telling them that and she said “I just want to get credit for it.” She was often asked for love advice by some of the younger girls. They say she gave them pretty straight answers, just as she saw it. She and Dad were married 68 years.

Since we traveled a lot, and didn’t get to church as often as she would like, Mom was always sure to bring out that big old bible story book and read to us. She always said if you have a question, “Read the bible to get your answer”.

She and Dad joined the Ruitian Club when they moved back to Mt. Airy to take care of family. She would crochet lap throws for them to distribute to the shut-ins and whoever needed one. They loved the fellowship with the members and enjoyed helping until their health prohibited them from coming.

She was always the glue that held us together and we spent many birthdays and holidays at their house enjoying hugs, food and laughs along the way. She and Dad enjoyed watching the grandchildren grow and the many hugs and kisses that were exchanged. She always wanted you to eat something, as Travis remembers the fried cornbread patties she made. Adam remembers the times Mom would play basketball with him in the driveway. She loved to play basketball, but was not allowed to in school, because of the shorts being too short per her Dad. She also would make Martin a deep dish peach pie, his favorite. She loved to craft with Brian, showing him how to crochet Christmas ornaments. All agree that she had a beautiful voice and loved to sing the old time gospel songs.

RW remembers that when he did something wrong, Mom would always say “Wait until Daddy gets home.”  Sometimes  it might be a week before Dad could get home, so he had to wait for his punishment, and dread what was coming, which is worse than getting it over with. That was a good way for her to keep everyone in line. Mom always said that Anna Dell was her “Little Red Hen “ cause she could always depend on her.

Mom was a hard worker, from canning vegetables, to helping Daddy build an addition to the house, babysitting and crafting with the boys.

We will miss her sweet smile and loving arms, but know she is with Dad and we know she is having a great reunion with him and all her loving family that has gone before. 

God said her job on this earth was complete and it was time for her to come home. She will be in our hearts forever. She was a great blessing to everyone she met. Go in peace, Mom.