Mr. Warren Leroy Ridgley

Warren Leroy Ridgley, age 93, of West Friendship, passed away on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at his home. Warren was born on May 6, 1931, in Glenwood, MD, to Warren H. and Loretta L. Ridgley. For the first 11 years of his life Warren moved around to different farms in Howard County, where his father would work. Warren would be their only child, and the little family would finally settle onto their own farm in West Friendship in 1941. Warren always made sure fun was had by all, as he had many cousins, he enjoyed spending time with, as well as playing pranks on his mother, such as the time he tied her pigtails to the ironing board. He didn’t really like school much and would hide in the woods when the bus came to avoid the torment. He was a little bit of rebel, even back then. He met his love and lifetime partner, Elsie Louise Pickett, while working at the Hoods Mill Canning Factory. They were married at the Parsonage at St. James Church, on September 27, 1952. This September they would have been married 72 years. They had 3 children, Timothy Douglas, Linda Louise, and Gary Warren. Their family was also a farming family and worked on the Ridgley Family dairy farm. Warren also worked at NIH for 30 years, where he took care of the animals and built innovative and award-winning projects used for research. In fact, Warren was a problem solver and was always building something. In 1960, he built the house on Rover Mill Road in West Friendship, across the way from the family farm he grew up on, and where he would live for 64 years. Whether it was carpentry, plumbing, or electrical work, Warren did it all and was meticulous about it. In his spare time, he loved blue grass/country music and enjoyed the days he and Elsie spent at Sunset Park, Opryland, and Dollywood. Warren went by several names, Bunk, Dad, Big D, and Pop-Pop to name a few. But no matter what you called him, you knew the man behind the name was intelligent, hardworking, trustworthy, and always glad to see you. So, it’s not goodbye, but rather as he always said, “So long”. We’ll have all the memories until we meet again. Warren was predeceased by his wife Elsie; parents Loretta and Warren H. Ridgley; grandchildren Melissa N. Patterson and Joshua S. Patterson. He is survived by children, Timothy D. Ridgley Sr and wife Shawn Ridgley, Linda L. Ridgley, Gary W. Ridgley and wife Dorene Ridgley; grandchildren, Timothy D. Ridgley Jr, Michelle L. Joy, Thomas H. Ridgley, Holly L. Ridgley, S.C. Kendall Ridgley, Travis L. Hall, Jason L. Hall, and Christine M. Ridgley; great grandchildren, Jacob Jones, Mara Jones, Nick Ridgley, Nathan Ridgley, Ava Ridgley, Lucas Ridgley, Colin Ridgley, Garrett Hall, Audrey Hall, Jillian Sutton, Owen Hall, Alanah Nicole; great-great grandchildren, Jayce K. Jones and Kyler E. Jones. A private ceremony for the family will be held at Haight Funeral Home & Chapel at their convenience and Warren will be laid to rest at Crest Lawn Memorial Gardens.

Mr. Warren Leroy Ridgley

May 6, 1931 - July 27, 2024