Erma Riddle

Erma D. Riddle PITTSBORO - Erma Dance Riddle, 73, died unexpectedly at her home in Fearrington Village Nov. 10, 2008. She was born in Jacksonville, Fla., Oct. 26, 1935, but moved with her family to Fayetteville, N.C., early in her childhood, where she spent her growing-up-years. She was a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in elementary education. She taught the fifth, third and first grades in Raleigh, N.C., Camp Lejurne, N.C., Arlington, Va., and Tarboro, N.C. She is survived by her husband of 48 years, the Rev. Dr. Charles M. Riddle III; three sons, Evan Carter Douthat Riddle of Memphis, Tenn., the Rev. Jonathan Harwood Riddle and his wife Lisa of Fort Mill, S.C., Lea Pierce Webster Riddle and his wife Virginia of Roanoke, Va.; and seven grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Dr. Dewey Walker of Denver. She is fondly remembered for her love of reading, her fondness for feeding birds, tending her flower beds and especially for her gourmet meals. Her soul was fed by the yearly beauty of the fall foliage, by the sunlight of the waves of the Atlantic coast beaches, by the stately cadences of the Book of Common Prayer and by the policies of the Democratic party. There will be a memorial service at 11 a.m. in St. Michael's Episcopal Church, 1520 Canterbury Road, Raleigh, Friday, led by the Right Rev. Robert C. Johnson, the retired bishop of North Carolina and the Rev. Samuel Gregory Jones, the rector of St. Michael's. A reception will follow in the parish hall. A private burial will follow later in the family lot in Danville, Va. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Blue Ridge Autism Center, P.O. Box 226, Blue Ridge, VA, 24064 or to The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, P.O. Box 58129, Raleigh, NC 27690. Online condolences to www.griffinfuneral.com., select obituaries. Arrangements are under the care of Griffin Funeral Service and Cremation, Pittsboro.