Edith Sturman

Sept. 16, 1930 - January 26, 2025
Edith Rene Sturman, age 94, passed away peacefully on January 26, 2025, in Riverside, CA.
The oldest surviving member of her four siblings, Rene-as she was know to friends and family
-was born to Blanco Riddle and Helen (Nordstrom) Riddle in Silver City, NM, on September
16, 1930.
Rene attended New Mexico A&M, where she was voted Homecoming Queen in 1950. At New
Mexico A&M, Rene met her husband, William Albert "Al" Hall. The couple moved to Blythe,
CA, where they raised three children and worked in farming. While both went on to remarry,
Rene and Al remained in touch until Al's passing.
Rene moved with her children to Riverside, where-aside from a few years in Mountain View,
CA-she remained for the rest of her life. Rene studied at Riverside City College and worked
at Security Pacific National Bank, later Bank of America, where she created new accounts for
customers.
Rene was fond of her time at New Mexico A&M and was a proud Aggie. She would often
travel to alumni events in both New Mexico and California. During one event at the Disneyland
Hotel, she was introduced to another proud Aggie, Capt. William H. "Bill" Sturman. After a
brief courtship, the two married at the Crystal Cathedral. Rene and Bill spent 34 years together
traveling across America and the world, until Bill's passing in 2015.
Rene was passionate about Riverside and was active in a number of civic and volunteer
organizations. She was a long-standing member of the Friends of the Mission Inn. She served
as President of the organization from 1999-2000. During her tenure, she was involved with the
St. Francis Statue and Memorial, the Ho-O-Kan Room, and the placement of the Frank Miller
statue. One of her proudest contributions with the Friends was her work organizing the
restoration of the Inn's Kimball Organ. From 2000-2003, Rene worked with the Mission Inn
Hotel, the Friends of the Mission Inn, and the Ballantyne family to restore this piece of
Riverside history.
Always civically minded, Rene spent time with the Riverside Republican Women Federated,
worked with the retired officers' wives as part of TROA (The Retired Officers Association)/
MOAA (Military Officers Association of America), and was a member of the Riverside
Newcomers Club.
Rene had a lifelong passion for cooking. She often collected and mailed recipes to family, and
was an active participant in the Riverside Gourmet Group.
Rene will be missed by her large family and many friends.
Rene is survived by her children, Charles A. "Andy" Hall and wife Mary Hall of Riverside, and
Debra Brown of Riverside; her grandchildren, John Hall of Riverside, Dylan "Jeffrey" Brown and
wife Ariel Brown of Colorado, and Kyle Brown of Oregon. She was preceded in death by her
husband, Bill; her parents; her son, Larry Hall; her brother, Don; and her sisters, Louise and
Jean.
Memorial services will be held on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at 10:30 AM at Riverside
National Cemetery. Friends and family are welcome to pay their respects to Rene. Reception
will follow the services at 12:00 PM at Victoria Club, 2521 Arroyo Dr., Riverside, CA 92506.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations kindly be made to either Inland Empire
Teen Challenge or the Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center.