Betty Lou Erby Riddell
Betty Lou Erby Riddell, a loving aunt, sister and friend, passed away Thursday evening, December 17, 2015. Funeral Service: 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 29, 2015, at Shannon Rose Hill Funeral Chapel. Burial: Shannon Rose Hill Cemetery. Memorials: The American Cancer Society or the North Texas Humane Society. Betty was born November 8, 1929 in Fort Worth to La Rue Kiker Erby and Henry Dewey Erby in 1929. She and her older sisters, Hazel and Mildred, had a wonderful childhood in east Fort Worth, which included trips to see the Fort Worth Cats play at the old La Grave Field and taking the downtown bus on Lancaster Street to shop at Leonard Brothers Department Store and The Fair. Betty served in the Air Force as a dental assistant for three years and was stationed in California and South Carolina. Soon after returning to Fort Worth, Betty packed her bags and moved to New York City to work at the Continental Grain Company. She loved living in NYC where she made many friends. She saw every Broadway show that opened during her years there. Always in search of adventure, Betty moved to Saudi Arabia in 1964 to work for Aramco Oil. Living abroad gave her many opportunities to travel to Europe and the Far East. She met her devoted husband, John R. Riddell, on one of those trips to Thailand. John also worked for Aramco, but they had never met at their base in Saudi Arabia. John and Betty married in Athens, Greece in 1970. They soon returned to the U.S., where John's career in logistics took them back to New York, then Akron, OH, Tulsa, OK and Kennesaw, GA. After John retired, they made Fort Worth their home to be near Betty's family. Betty and John had 26 wonderful years together before his death in 1996. Betty was a lifelong Methodist, and was a member of Arborlawn United Methodist Church and was a part of the Bible Study Class. She was an avid bridge and 42 player. Our Aunt Betty will be remembered for her generosity and love for her family and friends. Survivors: Beloved sister, Mildred Marie Payne; nephews, Thomas H. Payne and his wife, Lisa of Fort Worth, H. Whitney Payne and his wife, Susie of Keller, Jan Skjersaa and Karl Skjersaa of Orlando, FL.; many great nieces and nephews; her lifelong friends from her early years in Fort Worth and friends she met on her travels around the world.