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GEORGE RIDAY Obituary

forty-six year resident of Redlands who was active in many community organizations died May 27th in Redlands. He lived 99 years to the fullest. George Emil Riday was born Jan. 16, 1912, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Howard Stewart Riday and Alberta Jensen. George dropped out of high school after two years and worked for an agency. Three years later he was given an athletic scholarship to play football and baseball at Pennington Preparatory School in New Jersey, enrolling as a junior. During that time he met the love of his life, Phyllis Catherine Hewson. They were married May 22, 1937 and celebrated their seventieth wedding anniversary a few months before Phyllis passed away in 2007. Undergraduate studies were completed at Eastern Baptist College followed by graduation from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. After serving churches in New Jersey, George entered the Army as a chaplain, a week before Pearl Harbor was bombed. In December 1942 heading for North Africa with American troops, he left his wife and two small children. He was part of the 91st Evacuation Hospital serving in Sicily, England, the Normandy Invasion, Holland, and on to Germany until the end of World War II. Captain George E. Riday was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service. Because of his war experience, he decided to further his education in the field of mental health. He received a Master's degree in Educational Psychology from Wayne State University and his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Michigan. George became Director of Christian Education for Detroit Baptist Churches and later Academic Dean and Professor of Psychology at Alderson-Broaddus College in Philippi, West Virginia. His entry to California was as Professor of Pastoral Psychology at the California Baptist Theological Seminary. During this time he wrote Understanding the Learner. He was the first Counseling Psychologist to ever join the staff of Patton State Hospital and was a Professor of Psychology at San Bernardino Valley College for twelve years. He also taught at Crafton Hills College. During a sabbatical, George was a visiting professor with Chapman College's World Campus Afloat. He was also an adjunct professor at the University of Redlands, the University of California, Riverside, and the Loma Linda University School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry. George also had a limited private practice as a clinical psychologist. His community involvement was far reaching. He was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Redlands; served as president of the Fortnightly Club of Redlands as well as the Redlands Art Association; was a founding eight-year member of the Redlands Cultural Arts Commission; was a charter member and chairman of the Redlands Human Relations Commission; received the Plymouth Village Senior of Distinction Award the first year it was given; was a member of the Coalition Against Racism; was a charter member of the Redlands Mounted Police, and was captain of the Redlands Pony Express Club as well as president of the Rim of the World Riders. George was one of the ones instrumental in establishing the Redlands Christian Counseling Service. He received the Glenn E. Whitlock Distinguished Service Award in 1996. Art having been a lifelong passion, George spent much of his retirement concentrating on water- colors, acrylics, and sculpting. He participated in many shows and received numerous awards. In 1988 he designed the Oranges and Lemons Redlands Community Pride Awards graphics and was featured in a two-person exhibition in May 1990 at the San Bernardino County Museum and an earlier three-man show with Don O'Neill and Albert Landeros. Even at age 89, he received the Honored Senior Artist Award for the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging. Three of his paintings were selected to be permanently displayed at the association's headquarters in Washington, D.C. George was a dedicated husband, father, grand- father, great-grandfather, minister, chaplain, teacher, psychologist, and artist. His love for God, his family, his fellow man, and his country motivated him in all that he achieved. "Jesus looked at them and said, 'With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.'" Mark 10:27 Loving family members who remain include daughters, Mary Beth Hull and husband Thomas G. Hull of La Jolla, Loralee Swaner and husband Gary K. Swaner of La Canada Flintridge, and Jane Tveten and husband Jon P. Tveten of Redlands; son George E. Riday and wife Sue Riday of La Verne; grandchildren Beth Ann Wilson and husband Donald, Annie McLeod and husband Pat, Jim Riday and wife Danielle, Cory Tveten, Lisa Shimoff and husband Jared, Chrissy Tveten, Julianne Tveten, Lynley Gross and husband Mike. Gary Swaner and wife Mollie, and George Swaner and fiancee Katie Freberg; great-grandchildren Carolanne, Riley, and Mary Grace Wilson; Ellie, Paige, and Adam McLeod; Alexis Gross and Ava Riday. A service will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 26th at the First Baptist Church of Redlands. In lieu of flowers the family requests that you make a donation to the Margaret Clark Art Education Endowment Fund, the Salvation Army, or a charity of your choice.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Redlands Daily Facts on Jun. 19, 2011.

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