Obituaries

James Wallace Ridgway

Photo of James Wallace Ridgway
James Wallace "Wally" Ridgway, 83, of Little Rock, formerly of Pine Bluff, died Friday, January 6, 2012 in Little Rock. He was born May 29, 1928 in New York, New York, son of Dr. James Edgar and Dorothy Brarmann Ridgway. Mr. Ridgway was reared and received his early education in New York City, graduating from the Barnard School for Boys in 1945. He earned his Bachelors Degree in Biology from Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi and Masters in Entomology from University of Mississippi. He served in the United States Navy for 22 years, retiring as a Lieutenant Commander. Lieutenant Commander Ridgway was past president of the Southeast Arkansas Chapter of The Retired Officers Association (TROA), now known as MOAA. Mr. Ridgway worked as a sales representative for Parke-Davis Pharmaceuticals for 35 years, retiring June 1, 1990. He was a long-time member of First Baptist Church in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, where he sang in the choir for 30 years and served as a Deacon. Mr. Ridgway loved fishing and golfing. Mr. Ridgway moved to Parkway Village in Little Rock in 2006. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Langston Ridgway, whom he married June 1, 1952 in Tupelo, Mississippi; his parents; and brother, Emerson Ridgway. Survivors include his daughter, Suzanne (Jim) Sullivan of Little Rock; three sons, Wally (elaine) Ridgway Jr. of Auburn, Alabama, Judson Langston (Sheila) Ridgway of Lexington, Kentucky and John (Rhonda) Ridgway of Little Rock; eight grandchildren, Neil (Audrey) Sullivan, Nathan (Kristin) Sullivan, Spenser Ridgway, Laura Ashley Ridgway, Jackson Ridgway, Annelise Ridgway, Langston Ridgway and Whitley Ridgway; and three great-grandchildren, Brayden, Abby and Lane Sullivan. Mr. Ridgway will be in state Thursday and Friday evening at Ralph Robinson & Son Funeral Directors in Pine Bluff. Funeral services will be 2 p.m., Friday, January 13, 2012 at First Baptist Church in Pine Bluff with Dr. Charles Chamblee of Parkway Village and Reverend Matt Norton of First Baptist Church officiating with visitation following at the church. A public memorial visitation will be Friday evening from 6-7:30 p.m. at Parkway Village Commons Building in Little Rock. Burial with military honors will be 2 p.m., Sunday, January 15, 2012 at Glenwood Cemetery in Tupelo, Mississippi with Reverend B.F. Lee officiating. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 6501 S. Hazel, Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71603; or Parkway Village, 14300 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, Arkansas 72211. Online register: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.

Published January 11, 2012

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