Dr. Ernest A. Rider

1932 - 2022

Dr. Ernest A. Rider
April 20, 2022
Charlotte, North Carolina - Ernest Aubrey Rider, 89, died on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 at his home. He was born in Rivesville, West Virginia, one of six children, on July 18, 1932 at the height of the Great Depression. He was the son of PM Rider and Ethel Isolace Cole Rider. The son of two educators, Ernie realized that education was a key to his future. Ernie went to college at Fairmont State where athletics and extracurricular activities became central to his life. He played varsity football, basketball, and baseball, ran track and cross country, sang in the choir, and played the baritone horn in the band which became extremely important after he joined the army during the Korean War. He was shipped off to Germany to Band training school for two years.
Following his military service, Ernie enrolled in graduate school at West Virginia University with the idea of teaching at the college level but soon realized that dentists made more money than college professors.
Dr. Ernest Rider received his dental degree from West Virginia University, completed a residency in children's dentistry at the Eastman Dental Center in Rochester, New York, and his orthodontic residency at Eastman Dental Center, University of Rochester and Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York. He practiced orthodontics in Charlotte for 58 years and had special training in facial development of the growing child. Dr. Rider was a recognized specialist in the treatment of craniofacial anomalies such as cleft lip, cleft palate, and the treatment of facial development problems in young children. He also specialized in the management of head, neck, face, and jaw pain. In addition, Dr. Rider treated hundreds of people with snoring and obstructive sleep apnea problems.
Dr. Rider presented scientific papers on cleft palate treatment, jaw pain management, treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, and treatment of face and jaw development problems at state, regional, and national meetings of pediatricians, otolaryngologists, plastic surgeons and orthodontists. He also wrote a textbook chapter on the diagnosis and treatment of sleep-disordered breathing.
Dr. Rider was honored by and a member of quite a few professional organizations including Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics; Fellow, World Federation of Orthodontists; Fellow, College of the American Board of Orthodontics; Fellow, American College of Dentists; member, North Carolina Dental Society; Past President, North Carolina Association of Orthodontists; Past President, North Carolina Second District Dental Society; and Past President, Charlotte Dental Society. Dr. Rider was a member of the Dilworth Rotary Club.
Dr. Rider is survived by his wife, Nancy Hughes Rider and her children, John Geer and his wife, Tammy and their son, Jay; Susan Zanghi and her daughters, Jennifer and Kristen and son, Tony; Todd Geer and his wife Laura.
Dr. Rider is also survived by Ann Rider, his first wife and the mother of their children, Cynthia Rider; Stephanie Sterling and her husband, Doug, and her son, Bryson; and Amy Elkins and her daughter, Jasmine and granddaughter, Isabella. He was preceded in death by a son, Steve Rider.
Also surviving is Dr. Rider's second wife, Gloria DeLone and her daughters, Natalie Garcia and her husband, Orlando, and Anjie Waters and her husband, Wes and their daughters, Caitlyn, Mary Holland and Mallie.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Monday, April 25, 2022, at Myers Park Baptist Church.
Memorials may be sent to Novant Health Hospice, PO Box 33549, Charlotte, NC 28233-3549 or to Myers Park Baptist Church, 1900 Queens Road, Charlotte, NC 28207.
Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC; 28204 (704) 641-7606. Online condolences can be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.