George Sewell Ridenhour Jr.

Mr. George Sewell Ridenhour, Jr. was called home to join his wife and loved ones on December 2, 2023, at the age of 82. He was affectionately known as “Mr. Ride” and was most remembered for his many years of service as a biology teacher at Cherokee High School. He passed away peacefully at the age of 82 after a prolonged illness. Mr. Ride was the son of George S. Ridenhour, Sr. and Frances Lowry Ridenhour. He was born in Ellaville, Georgia and later raised in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina. After earning an undergraduate degree in history from Mars Hill College, he later advanced his education with a Master’s degree from Western Carolina University in biology. Mr. Ride served in the United States Air Force Intelligence during the Vietnam War. After coming home, he began a public-school teaching career in Greenville, South Carolina where he met the love of his life, Emma Lawson Ridenhour. They were married for 35 years. The pair relocated to Canton, Georgia in the early 1970s. Mr. Ride taught Biology at Cherokee High School for 30 years and also served as a US Army Corp of Engineers Ranger at Lake Allatoona. As a lifelong scholar and educator, Mr. Ride’s interests included hiking in the great outdoors, avidly gardening in his backyard, reading classical literature, and enjoying a diverse variety of music from Chopin to Credence Clearwater. He also enjoyed exploring the blue skies as a small plane pilot in his early years and loved a trip to any art museum. He also loved visiting his home in North Carolina. As a generous philanthropic humanitarian, Mr. Ride was a lifelong supporter of numerous charitable organizations including St. Jude Childrens Hospital, the Worldwide Wildlife Federation, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and the Jane Goodall Foundation. He was a supporter of land preservation, conservation, and environmental protection. He is predeceased in death by his parents, George S. Ridenhour, Sr. and Frances Ridenhour, sister Ruth Barrow, and wife, Emma Ridenhour. He is survived by daughter Laura, her husband Bill and their sons Noah and Adam Pearce of Roswell, Georgia and daughter Amanda Ridenhour of Ashville, North Carolina. He will be greatly missed, and his strong legacy will remain in our hearts and minds forever. Visitation will be Sunday, December 10th from 1-2pm at Darby Funeral Home. A memorial service will follow at 2pm in the chapel of Darby Funeral Home with Rev. Nathan Brandon officiating. The caring staff of Darby Funeral Home is honored to serve the Ridenhour family.

Tributes

George Sewell Ridenhour Jr.

February 11, 1941 - December 2, 2023