MARY A. RIDGWAY

VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA – Mary Ann (Johnson) Ridgway, 54, passed away on June 11, 2008 in a Richmond, Virginia hospital. Mary is a native of South Dakota, but lived in the Virginia Beach area most of the time since 1973. She was born in Wagner, South Dakota and lived in the Avon area until her marriage to David Ridgway on February 12, 1972. Mary moved to Virginia to be with David who was stationed with the Navy in Norfolk. She lived life to the fullest working, raising four children—being both mother and father while David was deployed. Mary was active in the community as a Girl Scout leader and in her church as a vacation bible school teacher, acolyte leader, and Sunday school teacher. When David retired, she decided to go back to school to become a nurse. She graduated from Old Dominion University in May, 2000 and has been a registered nurse for the past 8 years with Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital. As an Intensive Care nurse, she touched the lives of countless patients, colleagues, and co-workers with her positive and caring outlook. Mary later became a member of the Chapel by the Sea at Dam Neck, Virginia and was very active with her home bible study group.



Survivors include her husband, David L. Ridgway, four children, Sheila Ridgway Roller of Garfield, Kentucky, Sean Ridgway and his wife Jamie, Chris Ridgway and his wife Amy, Alyssa Ridgway, and ten grandchildren, Andrew, Krystal, and Shelby of Garfield, Kentucky, Tyler, Justin, Carter, Michael, Alexis, Nicholas, and Noah all of Virginia Beach. Survivors also include her brothers and sisters, Les Johnson and wife Ann of Davenport, Iowa, Wilma Schnabel and husband Maynard of Tripp, Arlene Buchholz and husband Virgil of Vermillion, Nilus and wife JoAnne of Wagner, Karen Sedivy and husband Gary of Vermillion, and Tim and wife Christy of Oneill, Nebraska as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family. Mary will also be deeply missed by the many friends, colleagues, and co-workers she has come to know throughout her life.



The family received friends and relatives from 6-8 P.M. in H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts. Chapel in Virginia Beach, Virginia on Saturday June 14, 2008. A funeral service will be held 2 PM, Friday June 20, 2008 at the First Presbyterian Church in Avon with visitation from 1-2 P.M. Her final resting place will be with family and friends at the Presbyterian Cemetery in Avon. Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Chapel in Avon is in charge of local arrangements.