Jean Ridgway, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother passed away peacefully on the morning of February 2nd in her residence in Ventura. Jean was 92 years old.
Born December 28, 1924 to Glenn and Kathleen Grossnickle in the small farming community of Onaga, Kansas, she grew up on the family farm and helped raise four brothers and a sister. After graduating from Onaga High she began working at the military department at Kansas State University in Manhattan and met the love of her life, Joe Ridgway, in June of 1944. The two soon married on September 16, 1944 and after Joe's graduation from Kansas State with a degree in veterinary medicine, the two packed their car and headed to California where Joe was offered a veterinary job in Alta Dena for $250...a month! Later while passing through Ventura on their way to Santa Barbara for a job interview for Joe, they fell in love with the city and its people. It was this trip that the two decided that Ventura would be the ideal spot to establish a veterinary practice and raise a family.
On January 24, 1950, Jean and Joe welcomed their first son, Vincent Jay. Vince grew up to be an outstanding sportsman in both basketball, and later as an avid fisherman and boat captain. On March 3rd, 1955 Jean and Joe adopted their second child, Robert Glenn. Robert grew up to be a successful Realtor and is raising a family of his own.
Jean was a very active member in several clubs and associations. An avid Bridge player, she would often times play in Bridge tournaments several times a week. She would also develop a passion for golf with her husband, joining Saticoy Country Club. Both would spend afternoons playing in couples events at the club, often wining their division. In her later years, Jean would often watch her beloved granddaughter Jennifer Anne act on stage and would go multiple times to see her perform.
Above all, Jean liked to travel. She found peace with many far away destinations. Jean and Joe enjoyed taking boat cruises and plane trips to Florida, Louisiana, the East Coast and to Europe, including visiting with close family friends Guy and Christina Deters in the Bavarian town of Walgau, Germany, trips to Australia and New Zealand, and even taking a trip to Thailand. They both traveled all throughout the US in their motorhome, stopping at little out-of-the-way destinations along the way but often back to their roots in Kansas. Ultimately it was staying on the beach at local campgrounds that Jean loved the best.
Jean was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, local Veterinarian Dr. Joe Ridgway, and by her younger sister, LaVon (Grossnickle) Flowers. She is survived by her two sons, Vincent and Robert Ridgway, Robert's wife Gwen and their daughter Jennifer, brothers Glen Grossnickle of Phoenix, AZ, John and wife Elvina Grossnickle of Onaga, KS, Ron and wife Loralea Grossnickle of Corning, KS, and Tom and wife Shirley Grossnickle of Vancouver, WA, along with many nieces and nephews.
A service of remembrance will be held at the Charles Carroll Funeral Home, 15 Teloma Drive, Ventura on Saturday the 4th of March at 1 PM. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to either the Ventura County Humane Society or the Pottawatomie County (Kansas) Caring Hearts Humane Society in Jean's name.
Published in Ventura County Star from Feb. 18 to Feb. 23, 2017.
Born December 28, 1924 to Glenn and Kathleen Grossnickle in the small farming community of Onaga, Kansas, she grew up on the family farm and helped raise four brothers and a sister. After graduating from Onaga High she began working at the military department at Kansas State University in Manhattan and met the love of her life, Joe Ridgway, in June of 1944. The two soon married on September 16, 1944 and after Joe's graduation from Kansas State with a degree in veterinary medicine, the two packed their car and headed to California where Joe was offered a veterinary job in Alta Dena for $250...a month! Later while passing through Ventura on their way to Santa Barbara for a job interview for Joe, they fell in love with the city and its people. It was this trip that the two decided that Ventura would be the ideal spot to establish a veterinary practice and raise a family.
On January 24, 1950, Jean and Joe welcomed their first son, Vincent Jay. Vince grew up to be an outstanding sportsman in both basketball, and later as an avid fisherman and boat captain. On March 3rd, 1955 Jean and Joe adopted their second child, Robert Glenn. Robert grew up to be a successful Realtor and is raising a family of his own.
Jean was a very active member in several clubs and associations. An avid Bridge player, she would often times play in Bridge tournaments several times a week. She would also develop a passion for golf with her husband, joining Saticoy Country Club. Both would spend afternoons playing in couples events at the club, often wining their division. In her later years, Jean would often watch her beloved granddaughter Jennifer Anne act on stage and would go multiple times to see her perform.
Above all, Jean liked to travel. She found peace with many far away destinations. Jean and Joe enjoyed taking boat cruises and plane trips to Florida, Louisiana, the East Coast and to Europe, including visiting with close family friends Guy and Christina Deters in the Bavarian town of Walgau, Germany, trips to Australia and New Zealand, and even taking a trip to Thailand. They both traveled all throughout the US in their motorhome, stopping at little out-of-the-way destinations along the way but often back to their roots in Kansas. Ultimately it was staying on the beach at local campgrounds that Jean loved the best.
Jean was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, local Veterinarian Dr. Joe Ridgway, and by her younger sister, LaVon (Grossnickle) Flowers. She is survived by her two sons, Vincent and Robert Ridgway, Robert's wife Gwen and their daughter Jennifer, brothers Glen Grossnickle of Phoenix, AZ, John and wife Elvina Grossnickle of Onaga, KS, Ron and wife Loralea Grossnickle of Corning, KS, and Tom and wife Shirley Grossnickle of Vancouver, WA, along with many nieces and nephews.
A service of remembrance will be held at the Charles Carroll Funeral Home, 15 Teloma Drive, Ventura on Saturday the 4th of March at 1 PM. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to either the Ventura County Humane Society or the Pottawatomie County (Kansas) Caring Hearts Humane Society in Jean's name.
Published in Ventura County Star from Feb. 18 to Feb. 23, 2017.
Jean Ridgway, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother passed away peacefully on the morning of February 2nd in her residence in Ventura. Jean was 92 years old.
Born December 28, 1924 to Glenn and Kathleen Grossnickle in the small farming community of Onaga, Kansas, she grew up on the family farm and helped raise four brothers and a sister. After graduating from Onaga High she began working at the military department at Kansas State University in Manhattan and met the love of her life, Joe Ridgway, in June of 1944. The two soon married on September 16, 1944 and after Joe's graduation from Kansas State with a degree in veterinary medicine, the two packed their car and headed to California where Joe was offered a veterinary job in Alta Dena for $250...a month! Later while passing through Ventura on their way to Santa Barbara for a job interview for Joe, they fell in love with the city and its people. It was this trip that the two decided that Ventura would be the ideal spot to establish a veterinary practice and raise a family.
On January 24, 1950, Jean and Joe welcomed their first son, Vincent Jay. Vince grew up to be an outstanding sportsman in both basketball, and later as an avid fisherman and boat captain. On March 3rd, 1955 Jean and Joe adopted their second child, Robert Glenn. Robert grew up to be a successful Realtor and is raising a family of his own.
Jean was a very active member in several clubs and associations. An avid Bridge player, she would often times play in Bridge tournaments several times a week. She would also develop a passion for golf with her husband, joining Saticoy Country Club. Both would spend afternoons playing in couples events at the club, often wining their division. In her later years, Jean would often watch her beloved granddaughter Jennifer Anne act on stage and would go multiple times to see her perform.
Above all, Jean liked to travel. She found peace with many far away destinations. Jean and Joe enjoyed taking boat cruises and plane trips to Florida, Louisiana, the East Coast and to Europe, including visiting with close family friends Guy and Christina Deters in the Bavarian town of Walgau, Germany, trips to Australia and New Zealand, and even taking a trip to Thailand. They both traveled all throughout the US in their motorhome, stopping at little out-of-the-way destinations along the way but often back to their roots in Kansas. Ultimately it was staying on the beach at local campgrounds that Jean loved the best.
Jean was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, local Veterinarian Dr. Joe Ridgway, and by her younger sister, LaVon (Grossnickle) Flowers. She is survived by her two sons, Vincent and Robert Ridgway, Robert's wife Gwen and their daughter Jennifer, brothers Glen Grossnickle of Phoenix, AZ, John and wife Elvina Grossnickle of Onaga, KS, Ron and wife Loralea Grossnickle of Corning, KS, and Tom and wife Shirley Grossnickle of Vancouver, WA, along with many nieces and nephews.
A service of remembrance will be held at the Charles Carroll Funeral Home, 15 Teloma Drive, Ventura on Saturday the 4th of March at 1 PM. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to either the Ventura County Humane Society or the Pottawatomie County (Kansas) Caring Hearts Humane Society in Jean's name.
Published in Ventura County Star from Feb. 18 to Feb. 23, 2017.
Born December 28, 1924 to Glenn and Kathleen Grossnickle in the small farming community of Onaga, Kansas, she grew up on the family farm and helped raise four brothers and a sister. After graduating from Onaga High she began working at the military department at Kansas State University in Manhattan and met the love of her life, Joe Ridgway, in June of 1944. The two soon married on September 16, 1944 and after Joe's graduation from Kansas State with a degree in veterinary medicine, the two packed their car and headed to California where Joe was offered a veterinary job in Alta Dena for $250...a month! Later while passing through Ventura on their way to Santa Barbara for a job interview for Joe, they fell in love with the city and its people. It was this trip that the two decided that Ventura would be the ideal spot to establish a veterinary practice and raise a family.
On January 24, 1950, Jean and Joe welcomed their first son, Vincent Jay. Vince grew up to be an outstanding sportsman in both basketball, and later as an avid fisherman and boat captain. On March 3rd, 1955 Jean and Joe adopted their second child, Robert Glenn. Robert grew up to be a successful Realtor and is raising a family of his own.
Jean was a very active member in several clubs and associations. An avid Bridge player, she would often times play in Bridge tournaments several times a week. She would also develop a passion for golf with her husband, joining Saticoy Country Club. Both would spend afternoons playing in couples events at the club, often wining their division. In her later years, Jean would often watch her beloved granddaughter Jennifer Anne act on stage and would go multiple times to see her perform.
Above all, Jean liked to travel. She found peace with many far away destinations. Jean and Joe enjoyed taking boat cruises and plane trips to Florida, Louisiana, the East Coast and to Europe, including visiting with close family friends Guy and Christina Deters in the Bavarian town of Walgau, Germany, trips to Australia and New Zealand, and even taking a trip to Thailand. They both traveled all throughout the US in their motorhome, stopping at little out-of-the-way destinations along the way but often back to their roots in Kansas. Ultimately it was staying on the beach at local campgrounds that Jean loved the best.
Jean was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, local Veterinarian Dr. Joe Ridgway, and by her younger sister, LaVon (Grossnickle) Flowers. She is survived by her two sons, Vincent and Robert Ridgway, Robert's wife Gwen and their daughter Jennifer, brothers Glen Grossnickle of Phoenix, AZ, John and wife Elvina Grossnickle of Onaga, KS, Ron and wife Loralea Grossnickle of Corning, KS, and Tom and wife Shirley Grossnickle of Vancouver, WA, along with many nieces and nephews.
A service of remembrance will be held at the Charles Carroll Funeral Home, 15 Teloma Drive, Ventura on Saturday the 4th of March at 1 PM. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to either the Ventura County Humane Society or the Pottawatomie County (Kansas) Caring Hearts Humane Society in Jean's name.
Published in Ventura County Star from Feb. 18 to Feb. 23, 2017.
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