Janice E. Riddley

Janice Elaine Riddley, 93, departed this life on October 23, 2023. She was born on September 18, 1930 in Marshalltown, Iowa to Murray Lindley Wolder and Bertha Elizabeth (Bates) Wolder.

Janice, Jan as some called her, and her family moved to Des Moines when she was nine years old. She attended Grant and Crocker schools, then Washington Irving Junior High and completed her education at North High School, graduating in 1948. During her elementary school years she was a Girl Scout, and in high school took secretarial classes and was on the jump rope team. Her first job was working at the Crocker YMCA as a secretary.

In 1953 she met and then married William Riddley and from this union three girls were born. She was gladly a stay-at-home mother for the girls and would daily make her husband’s lunch and get her girls ready for school. During the time her girls were in elementary and junior high school, she took on the task of PTA President and later tutored students who needed extra help.

When her daughters were grown, she returned to work and worked for The United Way of Central Iowa as a secretary and member of the campaign staff for 14 ½ years before retiring in 1999. She also worked for her husband’s business, Riddley Construction Company, from its inception in 1968 until it closed in 1982. She served as Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer.

She was a longtime active member of Corinthian Baptist Church in Des Moines from the time she was 15 years old until she moved to San Antonio, Texas when she was 75 to live with her sister and brother-in-law. She served Corinthian as church clerk at various times and was Deaconess as well as President of the Inspirational Chorus. She also helped in the church office and medical clinic.

She was a 50-year member of Princess Zorah Chapter #10 of the Order of the Eastern Star and was a past Grand Worthy Matron, just as her mother and aunt before her. She was also a member of Zeid Court #50, Daughters of Isis.

When she moved to San Antonio, she joined Grace First Baptist Church and was a member and former President of the Mission. She was honored by the Male Chorus with their Woman of the Year award in 2011.

Besides attending church regularly, she was an avid reader and sports fan. She watched football with her daughters and she and her sister would go to San Antonio Stars Women’s Professional basketball games together.

Jan leaves to mourn her passing her daughters, Carla Wolfe, Cathleen (Michael McShea) Riddley and Krista (Wayne Dunbar) Riddley; grandsons, Stephen Tindrell, Jr., and Richard Tindrell; granddaughters, Ashley Tindrell and Anna McShea; great-grandson, Emerie Tindrell; great-granddaughter, Aniyjah Tindrell; brother, Andrew (Helen) Wolder; sister, Donna (James) Florance; sisters-in-law, Essie Wolder and DeLoris Wolder; and a host of extended family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her brothers, Harold and Gordon Wolder; son-in-law, Tom Wolfe; and her former husband, William Riddley.

Services will take place at 11:30 a.m. Monday, October 30, 2023 at Corinthian Baptist Church, 814 School Street in Des Moines, IA with visitation from 10:00 to 11:30 am. Burial will follow at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines, Iowa.

Donations in her name may be directed to the United Way of Central Iowa.

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