Benjamin “Pete” Rush Ridgely, 93, died Friday, November 27, 2009 at his home in Stone Mountain, Georgia after a brief battle with cancer. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia to Herbert Warren and Alice Black Ridgely. He lived with his wife Gail Norton Ridgely for the last fifteen and a half years. He was preceded in death by his first wife of fifty-two years, Miriam McManus Ridgely. He is survived by one sister and her husband, Edith and Richard Carpenter of Newtown Square, PA; one daughter and her husband, Mimi and Jay Morgan of Dawsonville; and a son and his wife, Benjamin “Rusty” and Julia Ridgely, Jr. of Roswell. He is survived by stepdaughters and their husbands, Sherry and Lamar Mask, Becky and Keith Miles and Teresa and Len Ebersberger. Mr. Ridgely has eight grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, three nephews and one niece. Mr. Ridgely graduated from Decatur High School and was well known as a baseball southpaw participating in this sport until his early 60’s. He worked for Bell Bomber during World War II and worked as an electrician for IBEW undertaking the responsibilities of initial wiring and maintenance of area radio and television towers. He was a member of the North Decatur United Methodist Church for over 50 years, a former member of the North Decatur Lions Club, long-time University of Georgia Bulldogs Fan and an avid golfer. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at 11:00 A.M. at North Decatur United Methodist Church. Interment Floral Hills Memory Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the American Cancer Society or North Decatur United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends from 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. Sunday at A. S. Turner & Sons.
