Robert E. Riedel

A life spanning decades has ended, with the death of Robert E. Riedel, 98, of Ithaca. 

Robert was born December 11, 1911, in Hagerstown Maryland, the only child of Lulu Irene (Wilhelm) and Earl S. Riedel. After graduating from Business College in 1930, Robert found employment with the Central News Agency as a Teletype operator, also announcing the horse races for the board operator to post. By the end of 1932, book making was declared illegal and Bob moved on to bigger and better things. 

Moving to Michigan in 1935, he became the projectionist and future owner of the Ideal Theatre in Ithaca. Bob drove an Ithaca school bus from 1947, (when the buses were actually red, white and blue) until his retirement in 1982. He enjoyed driving three generations of some families to school. Bob served in the navy during WWII aboard the USS Hector as an electronics technician. After the war was over he owned and operated a part time radio/TV repair business for 33 years. He was also custodian of the United Methodist Church. His hobbies included flying a small plane he co-owned, raising and racing harness horses, and becoming an amateur radio operator, WB8LBJ. Robert is a past master of the Masonic Lodge, Shriner, and enjoyed working with the American Red Cross Disaster Action Team, and on their blood drives. Robert’s favorite occupation was being a fireman. He joined the Western Enterprise Fire Department in Hagerstown, MD when he was 16 years old and continued as a member of the Ithaca Fire Department, accumulating a total of 50 years service. He was named “fireman of the year” in 1982.

Robert married Dora Arlene Gibbs in 1937, and to this marriage came 3 children. Arlene passed away in 1954.

Robert married Margaret Whitaker in 1954, and three more children were added to his family. Margaret passed in 1996.

Robert is survived by his children: Arthur (Kay) Riedel of Lafayette LA, Ellen Keeler of Ithaca, Judy (Dennis) Tugen of Williamston MI, Helen Bongard of Lexington KY, Susan (Scott) Bates of Ithaca MI, and Robin (Bill) Rogers of St Louis MI. Robert enjoyed 17 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren, and 4 great great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Thursday, April 1, at the Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca, with Mark Monroe officiating. Interment will follow in Ithaca Cemetery. Visitation will be 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday.

Memorials may be made to the Ithaca Fire Department and the American Red Cross.