Richard Lea Stidham passed away at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia on Tuesday, December 22, 2015.
Rick was born in Erie, PA on July 14, 1955 to William and Virginia Stidham. The family moved to Muncie, IN in 1961 where he attended Roosevelt, Wilson and then Southside High School.
Rick will be greatly missed, but he left behind a ton of colorful and warm memories for all who knew him. Rick had a wild and vibrant personality, and he made friends at every turn. He moved to Atlanta, GA after high school and for years there has been a large group of family and friends from Muncie all living in the Atlanta area, and he loved them all.
Rick was a musician down to his core. Since childhood he was always singing, writing songs (especially teasing songs about friends and family) and picking out tunes on an acoustic guitar. One of the most beautiful songs he ever wrote is titled Virginia, in honor of his mother. He carried a harmonica in his pocket and would easily whip it out to play a tune, whether you wanted to hear it or not. Needless to say, Rick was the life of the party and was always ready to tell a joke, whether you wanted to hear it or not.
He was also generous to a fault. If Rick loved, or even just liked you, there is absolutely nothing he would not do for you. He simply could not stand to see people suffer or go through difficult times without offering a hand. He was the first to jump in to help with his time, his money, worldly advise or to say that he loves you. At parties and cookouts, he was the guy who showed up with the most food and cold beverage - enough for everyone, and then some.
Rick was a free spirit who drove more than 30 years, mostly for Ryder Trucking Services, where he was awarded for driving over one million accident free miles. He was proud of his work and loved the freedom of the road, which gave him the opportunity to see all of the United States. Therefore, it seems only fitting that his ashes have several destinations including burial in family cemeteries in Kentucky and Alabama.
Besides traveling, Rick loved to read books, newspapers, and magazines on any and every topic imaginable - especially history. He also loved fishing for rainbow trout on the Chattahoochee River, cooking for family and friends, and was the self-proclaimed king of seafood gumbo.
Rick is survived by his wife of 40 years, Margaret (Thompson) Stidham, Doraville, GA; two daughters, Stephanie Stidham, (fiance, John), Tallahassee, FL and Sherry Sartor (husband, Douglas), Snellville, GA; grandchildren Ethan Hedger, Rex Worley, Luke, Dayshaun, Malakai, and Laveyah Sartor; sisters Vicki Bell, Doraville, GA, Lynda Rowe, Cumming, GA; one brother, Larry Stidham, Cumming, GA, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Preceding Rick in death are his parents, brothers William R. Stidham and Robert F. Stidham, nephew Zachary J. Stidham, and most recently, his much loved son, Richard Christopher Stidham. Their reunion is certainly quite an event.
Rick was born in Erie, PA on July 14, 1955 to William and Virginia Stidham. The family moved to Muncie, IN in 1961 where he attended Roosevelt, Wilson and then Southside High School.
Rick will be greatly missed, but he left behind a ton of colorful and warm memories for all who knew him. Rick had a wild and vibrant personality, and he made friends at every turn. He moved to Atlanta, GA after high school and for years there has been a large group of family and friends from Muncie all living in the Atlanta area, and he loved them all.
Rick was a musician down to his core. Since childhood he was always singing, writing songs (especially teasing songs about friends and family) and picking out tunes on an acoustic guitar. One of the most beautiful songs he ever wrote is titled Virginia, in honor of his mother. He carried a harmonica in his pocket and would easily whip it out to play a tune, whether you wanted to hear it or not. Needless to say, Rick was the life of the party and was always ready to tell a joke, whether you wanted to hear it or not.
He was also generous to a fault. If Rick loved, or even just liked you, there is absolutely nothing he would not do for you. He simply could not stand to see people suffer or go through difficult times without offering a hand. He was the first to jump in to help with his time, his money, worldly advise or to say that he loves you. At parties and cookouts, he was the guy who showed up with the most food and cold beverage - enough for everyone, and then some.
Rick was a free spirit who drove more than 30 years, mostly for Ryder Trucking Services, where he was awarded for driving over one million accident free miles. He was proud of his work and loved the freedom of the road, which gave him the opportunity to see all of the United States. Therefore, it seems only fitting that his ashes have several destinations including burial in family cemeteries in Kentucky and Alabama.
Besides traveling, Rick loved to read books, newspapers, and magazines on any and every topic imaginable - especially history. He also loved fishing for rainbow trout on the Chattahoochee River, cooking for family and friends, and was the self-proclaimed king of seafood gumbo.
Rick is survived by his wife of 40 years, Margaret (Thompson) Stidham, Doraville, GA; two daughters, Stephanie Stidham, (fiance, John), Tallahassee, FL and Sherry Sartor (husband, Douglas), Snellville, GA; grandchildren Ethan Hedger, Rex Worley, Luke, Dayshaun, Malakai, and Laveyah Sartor; sisters Vicki Bell, Doraville, GA, Lynda Rowe, Cumming, GA; one brother, Larry Stidham, Cumming, GA, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Preceding Rick in death are his parents, brothers William R. Stidham and Robert F. Stidham, nephew Zachary J. Stidham, and most recently, his much loved son, Richard Christopher Stidham. Their reunion is certainly quite an event.
Richard Lea Stidham passed away at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia on Tuesday, December 22, 2015.
Rick was born in Erie, PA on July 14, 1955 to William and Virginia Stidham. The family moved to Muncie, IN in 1961 where he attended Roosevelt, Wilson and then Southside High School.
Rick will be greatly missed, but he left behind a ton of colorful and warm memories for all who knew him. Rick had a wild and vibrant personality, and he made friends at every turn. He moved to Atlanta, GA after high school and for years there has been a large group of family and friends from Muncie all living in the Atlanta area, and he loved them all.
Rick was a musician down to his core. Since childhood he was always singing, writing songs (especially teasing songs about friends and family) and picking out tunes on an acoustic guitar. One of the most beautiful songs he ever wrote is titled Virginia, in honor of his mother. He carried a harmonica in his pocket and would easily whip it out to play a tune, whether you wanted to hear it or not. Needless to say, Rick was the life of the party and was always ready to tell a joke, whether you wanted to hear it or not.
He was also generous to a fault. If Rick loved, or even just liked you, there is absolutely nothing he would not do for you. He simply could not stand to see people suffer or go through difficult times without offering a hand. He was the first to jump in to help with his time, his money, worldly advise or to say that he loves you. At parties and cookouts, he was the guy who showed up with the most food and cold beverage - enough for everyone, and then some.
Rick was a free spirit who drove more than 30 years, mostly for Ryder Trucking Services, where he was awarded for driving over one million accident free miles. He was proud of his work and loved the freedom of the road, which gave him the opportunity to see all of the United States. Therefore, it seems only fitting that his ashes have several destinations including burial in family cemeteries in Kentucky and Alabama.
Besides traveling, Rick loved to read books, newspapers, and magazines on any and every topic imaginable - especially history. He also loved fishing for rainbow trout on the Chattahoochee River, cooking for family and friends, and was the self-proclaimed king of seafood gumbo.
Rick is survived by his wife of 40 years, Margaret (Thompson) Stidham, Doraville, GA; two daughters, Stephanie Stidham, (fiance, John), Tallahassee, FL and Sherry Sartor (husband, Douglas), Snellville, GA; grandchildren Ethan Hedger, Rex Worley, Luke, Dayshaun, Malakai, and Laveyah Sartor; sisters Vicki Bell, Doraville, GA, Lynda Rowe, Cumming, GA; one brother, Larry Stidham, Cumming, GA, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Preceding Rick in death are his parents, brothers William R. Stidham and Robert F. Stidham, nephew Zachary J. Stidham, and most recently, his much loved son, Richard Christopher Stidham. Their reunion is certainly quite an event.
Rick was born in Erie, PA on July 14, 1955 to William and Virginia Stidham. The family moved to Muncie, IN in 1961 where he attended Roosevelt, Wilson and then Southside High School.
Rick will be greatly missed, but he left behind a ton of colorful and warm memories for all who knew him. Rick had a wild and vibrant personality, and he made friends at every turn. He moved to Atlanta, GA after high school and for years there has been a large group of family and friends from Muncie all living in the Atlanta area, and he loved them all.
Rick was a musician down to his core. Since childhood he was always singing, writing songs (especially teasing songs about friends and family) and picking out tunes on an acoustic guitar. One of the most beautiful songs he ever wrote is titled Virginia, in honor of his mother. He carried a harmonica in his pocket and would easily whip it out to play a tune, whether you wanted to hear it or not. Needless to say, Rick was the life of the party and was always ready to tell a joke, whether you wanted to hear it or not.
He was also generous to a fault. If Rick loved, or even just liked you, there is absolutely nothing he would not do for you. He simply could not stand to see people suffer or go through difficult times without offering a hand. He was the first to jump in to help with his time, his money, worldly advise or to say that he loves you. At parties and cookouts, he was the guy who showed up with the most food and cold beverage - enough for everyone, and then some.
Rick was a free spirit who drove more than 30 years, mostly for Ryder Trucking Services, where he was awarded for driving over one million accident free miles. He was proud of his work and loved the freedom of the road, which gave him the opportunity to see all of the United States. Therefore, it seems only fitting that his ashes have several destinations including burial in family cemeteries in Kentucky and Alabama.
Besides traveling, Rick loved to read books, newspapers, and magazines on any and every topic imaginable - especially history. He also loved fishing for rainbow trout on the Chattahoochee River, cooking for family and friends, and was the self-proclaimed king of seafood gumbo.
Rick is survived by his wife of 40 years, Margaret (Thompson) Stidham, Doraville, GA; two daughters, Stephanie Stidham, (fiance, John), Tallahassee, FL and Sherry Sartor (husband, Douglas), Snellville, GA; grandchildren Ethan Hedger, Rex Worley, Luke, Dayshaun, Malakai, and Laveyah Sartor; sisters Vicki Bell, Doraville, GA, Lynda Rowe, Cumming, GA; one brother, Larry Stidham, Cumming, GA, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Preceding Rick in death are his parents, brothers William R. Stidham and Robert F. Stidham, nephew Zachary J. Stidham, and most recently, his much loved son, Richard Christopher Stidham. Their reunion is certainly quite an event.
