Bob Ridgway was born October 13, 1941 in Tillamook, Oregon to Dorothy (Haugen) Ridgway and Robert Soice Ridgway and died in Pendleton, Oregon June 26, 2018. Bob spent his younger years in Wallace and Mullen, Idaho where he enjoyed the outdoors, playing piano and football. Bob’s parents divorced when he was young, and he went to live with his father in Seattle as a high school junior where he played football at Roosevelt High School.
Bob received a full ride football scholarship to the University of Washington where he played center. He moved to San Francisco in 1963 and was working for the Bank of America when he met his future wife MaryAlice Alderman on a blind date. They were married a year later on September 5, 1965 in Athena, Oregon, MaryAlice’s home town.
After Bob received his BA in Business Administration from San Francisco State, Bob and MaryAlice moved to Salem, Oregon where Bob attended Willamette Law School, where he was Editor -in-Chief of the Willamette Lawyer during his last year. Daughter Darcey was born early during the Oregon State Bar Exam, and MaryAlice didn’t tell him about the birth until the exam was over, knowing that he needed all his concentration to be on the exam. The family moved to Pendleton, Oregon in September 1971, where Bob practiced law for over 40 years.
He also served as Bankruptcy Trustee and Municipal Court Judge for more than 25 years. Nominated by his staff, he was awarded the Pendleton Chamber of Commerce’s Boss of the Year in 2006. Bob was an avid skier and went on many ski trips with the Slats and Binders Ski Club, skiing the slopes in Canada and the United States.
He was a regular at the RAC’S Monday-Wednesday Aerobics classes, and he was renowned for his baking skills, specializing in cheesecakes, gingersnaps, and chocolate chip cookies. He loved spending time with his family, and visiting and playing with granddaughter Elizabeth (7) was a highlight of his life. He enjoyed traveling, playing the piano, Bridge, biking, woodworking, packing and delivering weekend food for Altrusa’s Feed the Child program, and watching his beloved Huskies.
He believed strongly in supporting his community, as evidenced by the various boards on which he served, including the Eastern Oregon Alcoholism Foundation, Boys’ Ranch, American Heart Association, Pendleton Swim Association, Rotary Foundation, Pendleton School Board, and the Pendleton Chamber of Commerce. Bob is survived by his wife MaryAlice, daughter Darcey (Casey Currin), granddaughter Elizabeth, sisters Dorothy (Dottie) (Alex), Randi, Betty (Bobby), Anne, Nancy, and Patti (Daryl), and brothers Rick (Diane) and Don (Mike), many nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews. Bob passed away after a brief but valiant battle with cancer surrounded by his loving family in the care of Hospice.
He was a gracious patient and kept his sense of humor until the end. He will be missed by all who loved him. A celebration of Bob’s life will be July 7, 2018 at the Roy Raley Room at the Pendleton Round-Up Grounds at 5:00 PM.
Remembrances may be made to the Rotary Foundation, the Feed the Child Program (Altrusa of Pendleton), or a charity of one’s choice.
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