Ava Jean Ridgeway-Lodel

1931 - 2018

May 11, 1931 - March 24, 2018 Ava Jean Ridgeway-Lodel, 86, of Vacaville, passed away in her home surrounded by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and her beloved dog Sparky on March 24, in Vacaville. A private celebration of her life will follow on June 2. Ava Jean was born in Prairie City, OR, to Harvey and Vera Ridgeway on May 11, 1931. She attended Redmond High School and graduated in 1949. Ava Jean was a military wife. She did not work until her six children were old enough to take care of themselves. She picked tomatoes for Dick and Joyce Cameron, aka, "Dick's Dirty Dolls". After moving to Vacaville in 1970 Ava "Jean" worked for Vacaville Unified School district driving school buses. She then left Vacaville as a Transportation Supervisor and retired from Fairfield Unified School District as the Transportation Supervisor in 1990. Following her retirement she worked for Frontier Tours until 2006. She is preceded in death by her parents, Harvey and Vera Ridgeway; one brother, Buddy Ridgeway, and two sisters, Emily Mae Murray and Norma June Rodakowski. Ava Jean is survived by her two brothers, Eldon Ridgeway of Oregon, and Kenneth Ridgeway of Nevada; sons, Walter (Patricia) and John Connelly, Henry Jr. and Joe (Denise) Lodel; daughters, Mary (Michael Curley) Anderson, and Marla (Johnnie) Brown; 13 grandchildren, Brenda, Jason, Jeremy, Tommy, Carla, Chad (Ashley), Cody, Dakoda (Jessica), Tabatha, Joe Jr., Matthew, Alan and Alyssa; 18 great-grandchildren; and a number of fond relatives, and close friends.