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Obituary
Former Air Guardsman Dies

Retired Colonel William Edward “Bill” Ridley Jr, a 33-year veteran of the Georgia Air National Guard and twice president of the Historical Society of the Georgia National Guard passed away in early July.  Ridley, age 63, of Clarkesville, Batesville Community, formerly of Decatur, died at his residence following a sudden illness.

Born in Pike County on May 4, 1941, he was the son of the late William Edward Ridley, Sr., and Spence and Pauline Pettett Ridley McDonald. Graduating from Griffin High School, Col. Ridley held a B.F.A. degree from the University of Georgia . 

He was a U.S. Air Force veteran having served during Vietnam. He served for 33 years as a full-time employee of the Georgia Air National Guard and retired as chief of intelligence for the former 116th Tactical Fighter Wing at Dobbins Air Force Base. 

He was a member of Cornelia United Methodist Church and a former member of Oak Grove United Methodist Church in Decatur for 35 years. Ridley was preceded in death by a sister, Louise Ridley Jones. He is survived by his wife, Betty C. Ridley of Clarkesville; daughter and son-in-law, Katherine (Ridley) and Michael Morris of Coral Springs, FL; son and daughter-in-law, Stephen William and Eleanor Ridley of Lilburn; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Donald E. and Betty Jones of Griffin; sister-in-law and brother in law, Lynn and Gerry Thompson of Ft Lauderdale, FL; grandchildren, Lauren Morris, Rachel Morris, William Ridley and Thomas Ridley; nephews, Gene Jones, Mitchell Jones, Ed Jones, Jeff Jones, Mark Jones and Jeff Thompson and families; niece, Susan Washburn and family; and a host of cousins.The family received friends at McGahee-Griffin and Stewart Funeral Home. Funeral services were held at Oak Grove United Methodist Church in Decatur with Rev. David Hancock and Rev. Wayne Smith, officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery with full military honors.

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