James Riddlesberger

James Mills Riddlesberger, 73, of Carlisle, died, November 24, 2011 at Forest Park Health Center, Carlisle.
James Mills Riddlesberger was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania on June 15, 1938 and graduated from Carlisle High School in 1956. Always an excellent student, he also excelled in athletics beginning with the newly established Little League where he played first base for the Carlisle Bakery team and then moved up to the VFW Teener League where he played first base and pitched for the Post 101 team. In high school he was the quarterback for the Thundering Herd for three years during which time CHS was the class of the South Penn league. He also earned letters in baseball as well as track and field. Following high school he attended the University of Maryland, graduating in 1960 with a degree in civil engineering. He plied his engineering skills briefly for a time with the US Forest Service in Missoula, Montana. He then worked at Boeing Aircraft in Renton, Washington. Later he returned to work for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. In his mid 20’s Jim developed a disabling chronic illness which left him unable to continue his engineering profession.
Jim’s interests growing up were varied. He loved all kinds of music, both as a listener and as a participant, taking an early liking to the trombone as well as singing in the high school choir. He loved toying with older cars, especially the ’36 Ford Cabriolet, the ’41 Cadillac and the early 50’s Jaguar. For several summers he served as a life guard in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and for one summer at Laurel Lake State Park in Pennsylvania. As a way to stay close to the water, he and friend Bill Cochrane, seeing a future in surfing, built ten surf boards, then transported them to the eastern end of Lake Ontario to rent.
Jim is predeceased by his wife, Virginia, and father, Merchline M. Riddlesberger, DDS. He is survived by his mother, May Kitzmiller Riddlesberger, Carlisle; son, William Scot Riddlesberger and wife, Beth, Derwood, MD; daughter Lisa Walck and husband, David, Boiling Springs, PA; daughter, Susan Price and husband, Emmett, Carlisle, PA; Grandchildren Mandy, Hannah, Kara, Nicholas, and Abigail; Great-Grandson Kaden; two nephews; three nieces; brother Samuel M. Riddlesberger and wife, Joan, Spokane, WA; brother, Merchline (Bud) M. Riddlesberger, Jr and wife, Phyllis, Charlotte, NC; brother, John Henry Riddlesberger, Mount Holly Springs, PA; lifetime friend Roberta Zeigler Fornwalt and her husband, Charlie, Mt Holly Springs, PA.
Jim was a lifelong member of the First Lutheran Church, Carlisle.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, December 1, 2011 at First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 100 East High Street, Carlisle, with Rev. Charles A. Brophy officiating. Burial will be in Cumberland Valley Memorial Gardens, Carlisle.
Hoffman-Roth Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., 219 North Hanover Street, Carlisle is in charge of the funeral arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 100 East High Street, Carlisle, PA 17013.