James Richard Riddle

James R. Riddle, 73, of Spartanburg, SC, passed away on Tuesday, December 6th, 2022 at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center after complications with pneumonia and strokes.

James (Jimmy) was born on April 17, 1949 in Greenwood, SC to the late Harold L. Riddle and the late Lula B. Riddle. He is survived by his wife, Judy R. Riddle, of Spartanburg, SC, and his daughter Wendy I. Lufkin, of Spartanburg, SC, and his son, Chad J. Riddle of Winter Park, FL. Jimmy is also survived by his sister, Linda G. Holland, of Greenwood, SC, his brother, Ronald L. Riddle Sr. of Moore, SC, and his two grandsons, Taylor L. Lufkin and Nicholas J. Lufkin.

Jimmy was a loving husband, father, and grandfather, and contributed much of his life to the Spartanburg community and the SC School for the Deaf & Blind. Jimmy graduated SCSDB in 1970, where he met his wife, Judy R. Riddle. As an alum of SCSDB, Jimmy built a love of carpentry and became a teacher of woodworking at the school for over 13 years. Over time, Jimmy built connections with the community through his love of carpentry and helping others renovate their homes which quickly became a full-time job!

Jimmy also worked for various corporations where he helped build new wood-based installations while traveling the States and always collected his favorite coffee mugs from every State visited. One of Jimmy’s memorable contributions to the deaf and blind community was the renovation of SCSDB’s Walker Hall Museum where he rebuilt new display cases to help preserve the school’s history. Jimmy also served as a director of the Lawrence Sloan Center museum, and eventually retired from full-time work from Southeastern Products Inc in his 60’s and moved from Converse Heights to outside the city limits in Spartanburg County.

Most importantly, if you knew Jimmy, you knew he was a fun-loving and caring person who would go above and beyond to help any of his family and friends.  Every conversation had potential for a laugh with Jimmy, and he lived his life with the hopes of making everyone around him smile big from ear to ear.

A visitation for family and friends is to be held on Saturday, December 17, 2022 at 11:00AM - 12:30PM at The J.M. Dunbar Funeral Home in Roebuck, SC. A graveside service will follow nearby at 1:00PM at Heritage Memorial Gardens in Roebuck, SC.