Kenneth H. "Ken" Rider

Kenneth (Ken) Homer Rider, formerly of Wapakoneta, died on Friday, February 13, 2009 at 9:22 am following a prolonged fight against cancer at the age of 72. Ken died at the home of his daughter with the support of St. Rita's Hospice and surrounded by his loving family. Ken was born on December 4th, 1936 in Spencerville, Ohio to Homer and Edna Rider. He graduated from Spencerville High School in 1954 where he was three-sport Letterman in Football, Basketball and Baseball. Ken was a guard on Spencerville's 1952 team that still holds the schools best single season record of 18 - 2 and went deep into the Ohio State High School Playoffs. As a junior in high school, Ken teamed up with Senior Mick Miller to set a Guinness Book of World Record with 9180 baseball pitches in 10 hours, a record that still stands today. Following high school, Ken started a 14 year career at Montgomery Ward's where he was a district manager for stores in Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois. In 1972, Ken returned to Ohio and settled his family in Wapakoneta where he took a job as a salesman with Wolohan Lumber. For a short term in 1980s, Ken was the manager of Midwest Lumber located on North Street in Wapakoneta. Ken Retired from Wolohan Lumber in 1999 and after a few years in Wapakoneta moved to Bradenton, Fl to enjoy the sun and surf. While in Bradenton, Ken was the president of the Lake Bayshore O/P Condo Association which consisted of over 250 units. Ken was an avid golfer and enjoyed many years of golf at the Wapakoneta Country Club with his golf buddies Williard Steele, Al Winterman, Gene Jones, and Neil Bailey. Ken also loved fishing with his children and grand children and had many-a-tale of "the one that got away" at 40 acre pond or at Turtle Camp in Quebec. Perhaps only Larry Horman knows the truth� Like his father, Ken was long time member of the Masons (49 years), a member of the Wapakoneta Eagles, the Lima Elks, and the First United Methodist Church in Wapakoneta. Ken is survived by his wife Sue (Sherrick) Rider who shared 52 years of marriage. Also surviving is five of Ken's children: Lisa Fisher (Larry) of Wapakoneta, Robin Jones (Kevin) of Clyde, Oh, Dan Rider (Marie) of Newtown Square, PA, Brett Rider (Kellie) of Spencerville, Oh, and Beth Brockman (Howard) of Cincinnati, Oh. In addition, Ken is survived by 14 grandchildren (Randy, Katie, & Austin Fisher; Rebecca, Candy, Kayla, and Kevin Jones; Joesi & Lexie Rider; Jordyn, Joel, & Jessie Rider; Ryan & Lucas Brockman), 3 great grandchildren (Jack Fisher; Berkley & Lauryn Fisher) and his sister, Alyce Morrison of Spencerville, Oh. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Mary Krendl, a son Kenneth Randall Rider, and a great-granddaughter Kennedy Grace Fisher. A memorial service is planned for 7 p.m., Wednesday, February 18th at Bayliff & Eley Funeral Home in Wapakoneta, Ohio, where the family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for memorial contributions to be made in Ken's memory to the St. Rita's Hospice in Lima, Oh, or the United Way of Auglaize County.

Kenneth H. "Ken" Rider

December 4, 1936 - February 13, 2009