Mr. Charles "Chuck" William Ridgeway

Charles (Chuck) William Ridgeway, son of the late Charles Orion Ridgeway and Blanche Mildred Welker Ridgeway, was born on December 19, 1943 in Cumberland, Maryland. Chuck passed away on February 27, 2020 from Multiple Myeloma and liver disease. He attended public schools in Allegany County Maryland and was a 1961 graduate from Allegany High School. Chuck attended Frostburg State College and earned a BS degree in Art Education in 1965. Chuck was a public school Art teacher for four years in Baltimore county at Victory Villa Elementary School. This is where he met Ann, who later became his wife. After teaching in Baltimore County, he taught for one year at South Potomac Junior High School in Hagerstown, Maryland. He received his Masters degree in Art education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) the following year. He then moved to Columbia, Maryland and taught a Wilde Lake Middle School for three years. During that time, he married Ann Elizabeth Gordon of Hagerstown, Maryland. In 1973, Chuck started teaching Art at the new Harpers Choice Middle School in Columbia, Maryland. He also taught night classes in Art at Howard Community College for many years. He received his Masters plus 30 degree from Loyola University in 1985. Chuck was an advocate for education for many years with the following organizations- Howard County Educators Association; where he served as Vice President for 2 years, National Education Association; where he served as a delegate for 25 years, Maryland Retired School Personnel Association; where he served as President for 2 years and HEART Howard County Retired School Personnel Association; where he served as President for 2 years. In addition to Chuck’s involvement with the public school education system, he was very involved with the Masonic Order with varying capacities. Following in his father’s footsteps, he began his Masonic involvement in 1960 when he joined the Cumberland Chapter of DeMolay. Chuck continued his Masonic involvement throughout his entire life. He was a chapter advisor for Catonsville Chapter DeMolay and Chapter Dad for Frederick Chapter DeMolay for 25 years. He was a member of the Potomac Lodge 100 AFAM, Palestine 189 Catonsville, Maryland, York Rite Enoch Chapter of Royal Arch, Enoch Counsel of Royal and Select Masters, Monumental Crusade, Frederick Forest Tall Cedars of Lebanon, Ali Ghan Shriners of Cumberland, Maryland, Royal Order of Scotland, Queen Esther, and Scottish Rite. Among his many awards and achievements, he earned the Chevalier Award for DeMolay service 1991, the Legion of Honor Service Award for DeMolay Service to the World 1997, DeMolay Medal of Appreciation 1997, DeMolay Advisor Honor Key 1997, Guild of the Leather Apron 1997, DeMolay International Ritual Committee 2016-2018. Within Scottish Rite, he earned the highest rank of 33 degree. Chuck was always very active within his community to include being an ordained elder at Christ Memorial Presbyterian Church, Member of the Council for AARP and a Scout Master for many years. With their family, Chuck and Ann enjoyed summer time traveling around the United States and sightseeing 38 of 50 states. Many summer days were also spent at the family cottage along the South Branch of the Potomac River. This is where Chuck taught his children to swim, fish and canoe. Chuck loved being involved with his children and would go on long bike rides, fly kites on the beach, build sand castles and in the winter he would create elaborate snowmen in the front yard. Chuck was a true adventurer and a family man. In retirement, Chuck became involved with AARP and the Maryland Retired School Personnel Association. Chuck and Ann enjoyed traveling together and taking cruises with friends. They also enjoyed spending time in their home in Ocean City, Maryland and their family cottage in West Virginia. Chuck is survived by his wife of 50 years, Ann Elizabeth Gordon Ridgeway. Chuck’s life will forever be cherished in the lives of his children, their spouses and grandchildren: Heather and Alec Yeo and their children, Mason, Aiden and Delaney of Mount Airy, Maryland; Heidi and Carl Diliberto and their children Vincent and Benjamin of Eldersburg, Maryland; Joshua Ridgeway and his children Travis and Carter of Eldersburg, Maryland. Chuck’s love of adventure, family time, model trains, Christmas joy, Halloween fun, scouting, brotherhood, friendship and creativity will always be remembered and fondly held in our hearts. As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be sent to the Community Foundation of Howard County Charles Ridgeway Memorial Fund 10440 Little Patuxent Parkway Suite 230 Columbia, MD 21044 Or contributions may be made online at https://cfhoco.org/donate/ Beneficiaries of the funds will be Scottish Rite Hearing and Speech Agency and Howard County Arts Council. The family will receive friends on Friday, March 6, 2020 from 2-4pm and 6-8pm at Haight Funeral Home & Chapel, 6416 Sykesville Rd., Eldersburg where a Masonic service will be held during the evening visitation. The family will receive friends on Saturday, March 7, 2020 from 1:30pm until the start of a funeral service at 2:00 PM at Christ Memorial Presbyterian Church, 10600 Shaker Dr., Columbia, MD 21046 where a reception will follow. Online condolences may be offered at www.haightfuneralhome.com

Mr. Charles "Chuck" William Ridgeway

December 19, 1943 - February 27, 2020