William A. Riddick

                                   WILLIAM ALTON “POP” RIDDICk  “The Kind and Gentle Man”

William Alton Riddick affectionately known as “Pop” was born March 23, 1937 in Gatesville, NC.  Transitioned into eternal rest on Thursday, December 3, 2020 at 8:35 am at Holy Family Hospital in Methuen, MA.  He was the son of the late Joseph S. and Cleo (Parks) Riddick.

 William was the 3rd eldest of 12 siblings. Attended New Middle Swamp Missionary Baptist Church in Corapeake, NC with the family.

Educated in the segregated south of Gates County, NC. He would work in the fields after school and then he received a truck license and started driving trucks for 10 years. He Relocated to Waterbury, CT and then in 1963 relocated to Lawrence, MA with Malden Mills. He remained at Malden Mills until retirement in April 2002. For his wife not to work, he took a part time job at Abe Kalil Motors as a mechanic. After several years he went to work with Bill Deluca in Haverhill washing cars and then went to Woodworth Motors Chevrolet in Andover for about 20 years cleaning offices in the evening.

On May 8, 1965 he married the love of his life from Gates, NC, Elsie Jones.  They were blessed with four children, Lisa Diane, William Devel “Billy” of Lawrence, MA; Sheila Ann (deceased), and Steven Maurice and his wife Caroline of Suffolk, VA.  They had 2 honorary sons, Lesley and his wife Kathleen Theodore and the 3 children, Lesley Jr., Gracie, and Kethley of Methuen, MA and Rev. Dr. Barnest Patton, II of Yorkville, IL.

William is survived by one brother, C. Bruce Riddick (Marion) of Methuen, MA.  William also leaves  7 sisters; Ola Brown (Richard) of Gatesville, NC, Bessie Douglas (Ernie) of Society Hill, SC, Mary Baker, and  Helen Hardie (Charlie) of Gatesville, NC, Cleo Knight of Sumter, SC (Shared William’s birthday). Doris Riddick of Corapeake, NC, and Cynthia Hall (Ray) of Gates, NC.  In addition to his parents and daughter he was predeceased by his 2 brothers, Joseph S Riddick, Jr. and Delmar “Pete” Riddick and 1 sister Delois Hall; and one brother in law, Willie Baker.  Plethora of in- laws, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

In addition, he loved fishing and being outdoors. He would walk 6 miles everyday. He loved gardening, carpentry work and loved going out to the local ice cream shops. The friendliest person you would meet he spoke to everyone he encountered and loved children.

Family and friends are invited to an hour of visitation (practicing social distancing and current precautions) on Saturday December 12, 2020 from 11 am to Noon at the Dewhirst & Boles Funeral Home, 80 Broadway, Methuen. Funeral services will follow the visitation at Noon on Saturday at the funeral home.  To leave an online condolence, please visit William’s tribute page at www.dewhirstbolesfuneral.com.

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