Wallace L. Ridgway

Herrin- WALLACE L. RIDGWAY, age 72, of New Lenox, IL, formerly of Herrin, IL, passed away Friday, September 15, 2006 at Hines Veterans Hospital in Maywood. Wallace was born on October 30, 1933, in Herrin, to Ed and Ethel (Arnold) Ridgway. He married Wilma Jean Horn-Prather on December 30, 1993 in Paducah, KY. She survives in New Lenox, IL. After graduating from Herrin High School, Wally entered the United States Air Force, serving in Germany, France, and England as an air traffic controller. In August of 1954, while serving in Scullthorpe, England, he suffered a broken neck in a driving accident and lived as a quadrapalegic ever since. He was a member of the Paralyzed Veterans of America. Wally underwent a few years of rehabilitation, and became a real estate broker and developer. Mr. Ridgway was the former owner of Ridgway Realty in New Lenox. He developed thirteen subdivisions in the New Lenox area. Survivors include- Wife- Wilma Jean (Horn-Prather) Ridgway- New Lenox, IL Daughter- Susan G. Ridgway- Marion, IL Step Son- Bob L. and Kathy Prather- rural Carbondale, IL Step Daughter- Jacqueline and Stacy Hosmon- Marion, IL Seven Grandchildren- Danny Lewis Angel and Matt Cox DeAnn Gimenez Jason and Bobbi Hosmon Sarah Hosmon Ryan and Autumn Prather Amanda and Shane Bennett Ten Great Grandchildren Five Brothers- Edward and Helga Ridgway- Kentucky Ralph Ridgway- Herrin, IL Bill and Kathy Ridgway- Herrin, IL Fred and Midge Ridgway- Colorado John and Marlene Ridgway- Anguilla, WI Three Sisters- Ruth and Chuck Smith- Indiana Wanda and Lewis Peterson- Arizona Nadine and Fred Shadowens- Elkville, IL Several nieces, nephews and cousins Wallace was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters- Opal and Lola, four brothers-in-law- Tom Wands, Harold Davis, Ellis McKenzie, Fred Shadowens, one nephew- Larry McKenzie, one stepson- Michael Prather. Funeral services will be held at 2:00pm on Tuesday, September 19, 2006 at Johnson-Hughes Funeral Home in Herrin with Rev. Ralph Brandon officiating. Burial will follow at Eastlawn Memorial Gardens in Energy. Visitation will be held from 6-9pm on Monday, September 18, 2006 at Johnson-Hughes Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Alzheimers Foundation and will be accepted at Johnson-Hughes Funeral Home. For more information or to sign the memorial guest register, please visit www.hughesfuneralhomes.com