John Troy Riddle

John Troy Riddle, 83, of Charlotte, died Wednesday, March 21, 2018, at the Carrington Place Care Center where he had been the past month. John was born in Marion, NC, on March 3, 1935, the son of Troy William and Susan Douglas Riddle. He grew up there until WWII ended at which time his family moved back to Spartanburg, SC. John graduated from high school then in January of 1954, he enlisted in the United States Navy. He served as a radio operator aboard naval minesweeper ships, with his final tour of duty on the USS Vigor, MSO-473. In November of 1957, he was honorably discharged and awarded the National Defense Service Medal. John then attended the University of Tennessee at Johnson City. He went on to a career of sales. From tires with Gates Tires to school supplies with his sister’s company, John had a natural talent for interacting with people. In 1970, he met Ms. Magaline Smith Barkley and in December of 1973, they were married. John liked to brag about how long it took him to get a date with her. In 1978, they joined the LDS Church and when the church on Thompson Road was being built, they lived a block away and dedicated each day to monitoring and recording the progress of their new church. John retired in 2002 and spent his retirement enjoying movies, talking about and studying history, and sharing about his personal family history in the military. Most of all, he continued to enjoy spending time with family and friends. He was well known as a missionary for the church, engaging all about the blessings of faith. John could talk to anyone, share most anything, and will be sadly missed by all who knew him John is survived by his wife, Maggie; a sister: Margaret Milburn of Cheyenne, Wyoming; nieces and nephews: Casey Vreeland, Timothy Vreeland, Bobby Vreeland, Allison Vreeland Rucker, Paul Tillotson, Susan Tillotson and Laura Tillotson; their “adopted” church families, the Brent and Janice Jackson family, the Richard and Carrie Hanks family and Keith and Shirley Tinkham family. John is further survived by numerous other family, church family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers: William Paul “Jack” Riddle, Robert Riddle, Charles Douglas Riddle; and his sisters: Mildred Luhrman, Clara Tillotson; and a nephew, Jimmy Vreeland. John’s family has given the family of Lowe-Neddo Funeral Home the privilege of caring for them. A gathering of friends and family will be held on Friday, March 23, 2018, from 6 to 8 pm at funeral home, 4715 Margaret Wallace Road, Matthews, NC 28105, and on Saturday from 10 AM to 11 AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on 13925 Thompson Road, Mint Hill, NC 28227. 11 AM, services will be held after which all present will join in procession to John’s final place of earthly rest at Sharon Memorial Park.

John Troy Riddle

March 3, 1935 - March 21, 2018