Gravestone of Frances M. & Lauren H. Ridge
Lot #224, Powell Township Cemetery, Wilmore, Comanche County, Kansas.
Photo by John Edward (Ed) Schrock.
Lauren H. Ridge, well-known Wilmore farmer, passed away in the Hardtner hospital Sunday, March 6, after a lingering illness.Funeral services were held in the Baptist church in Wilmore Wednesday, March 9, at 2:30 p.m. and were in charge of Rev. Noel Woods, the pastor. He was assisted by D. B. Bennett, pastor of the Christian church in Pratt and a former Wilmore pastor. The scripture was from Psalms 23, Romans 8:28 and John 14:1-3.
Mrs. Arthur Barber and Mrs. Vic Holman sang "Some Day We'll Understand," Mrs. Holman sang "Softly Now the Light of Day" and a trio composed of Mrs. F. H. Moberley, Mrs. Austin Cobb and Mrs. Holman sang "Softly and Tenderly." Mrs. Wade Zeigler was the accompanist.
The graveside service was in charge of the Wilmore Masonic lodge, and the Eastern Star attended in a body. Burial was in the Wilmore cemetery. The pallbearers were Arthur Barber, Nick Baker, Lester Trummel, Valtos Richardson, W. Vic Holman and Warren Day.
The close relatives from out of town who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Marion Hayes and Mr. and Mrs. Ed Andrews and Lorita and Virginia Smith of Liberal, Calvin and Forrest Smith of Manhattan, Mr. and Mrs. Loral Bartholomew of Hutchinson, Roy Bartholomew of Sterling, Geneva Pepperd of Dodge City and Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Cline of Coldwater.
Among the friends from out of town who attended the funeral services were
T. J. Foree , Bruce Foree and Mrs. Lena Barber and Mr. and Mrs. Burnill Heaton of Wichita and Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Smith of Wheaton, Kans.
Obituary. Lauren Hays Ridge, son of Clara E. and Arthur C. Ridge, was born Sept. 29, 1904, at Basil, in Kingman county, Kans. He passed from this life on Sunday afternoon, March 6, 1949, at the Achenbach Memorial hospital at Hardtner, Kans., at the age of 44 years, 5 months, and 5 days.
His grade school education was received in Kingman county. He came with his family to Comanche county in 1919, where they lived on the farm east of Wilmore known as the Griffin place. His high school training was in the Wilmore high school.
At the early age of 11, Lauren accepted Christ as his savior and became a member of the Church of Christ. After coming to Wilmore, he, along with other members of the family, united with the Christian church, where he was a member, until December of 1945 when he united with the Baptist church. He had always been interested in church work, having served on several occasions as deacon in the Christian church and had served as the Baptist Sunday School during the past year. He was devoted and loyal to all the services of the church.
On September 24, 1933, he was united in marriage with Miss Frances Pepperd, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. C. Pepperd of the Wilmore community. Most of their happy years together have been spent on a farm, but their interests have embraced all that is helpful and uplifting in the civic and religious life of the community.
Mr. Ridge had been failing in health for nearly a year. He suffered from chronic kidney infection which had become increasingly critical since Christmas. On Sunday afternoon, while several members of his family were with him, he went to sleep and quietly slipped away into the arms of his Heavenly Father whom he has loved and served devotedly through the years.
He leaves to mourn his passing his devoted wife, Mrs. Frances Ridge, and his father-in-law, T. C. Pepperd, of the home; a sister-in-law, Miss Geneva Pepperd of Dodge City; his mother, Mrs. Ed Andrews and Mr. Andrews of Liberal, Kans.; two sisters and their husbands, Mrs. Fay Smith and Mr. Smith of Wilmore, Kans., and Mrs. Roy Cline and Mr. Cline of Coldwater, Kans.; four nieces and three nephews, besides many other dear relatives and a host of friends wherever he was known.
He was preceded in death by his father, Arthur Ridge, July 12, 1927; a younger brother, Marion Ridge, July 29, 1932; and his mother-on-law, Mrs. T. C. Pepperd, August 23, 1946.
His wide interest and influence is shown by the fact that he was a member of the Masonic Lodge of Wilmore and had served as its Master; he was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and a member of the recently organized Lions Club in Wilmore. His Christian character is graciously revealed in the unselfish spirit by which he assumed the full responsibility for the home upon the death of his father several years ago and by the co-operative spirit in which he and Mrs. Ridge helped to make a home for T. C. Pepperd since the passing of Mrs. Pepperd in 1946.
The home has lost a devoted husband and son; his church a loyal member and Christian brother; and his community a worthy leader and champion of all that is worthwhile.
Along with the family, we mourn his passing but with them we also rejoice in the happiness which is his and in the hope which we share in the Lord Jesus Christ. Lauren has left this vale of sorrow and unfulfilled dreams to find their ultimate reality in that home with God which Jesus has prepared for all who have accepted Him and love Him, "Let not your heart be troubled, For me to live in Christ and to die is gain." --Contributed.
Gravestone of Frances M. & Lauren H. Ridge
Lot #224, Powell Township Cemetery, Wilmore, Comanche County, Kansas.
Photo by John Edward (Ed) Schrock.
Martha Lavenia (Ridge) Cline, sister of Lauren Hayes Ridge.
Samuel A. Ridge, father of Arthur C. Ridge; grandfather of Lauren Hayes Ridge.
Arthur C. Ridge, father of Lauren Hayes Ridge.
Clarenda E. (Hayes) Ridge Andrews, mother of Lauren Hayes Ridge.
Marion Ridge, brother of Lauren Hayes Ridge.
Velma (Ridge) Smith, sister of Lauren Hayes Ridge.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!
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