Phillip Roy Ridinger

Phillip Roy Ridinger, age 71, of Guernsey, Wyoming, passed away, surrounded by his loving family.

Phil was born on November 7, 1953, in Branson, Missouri, to Roy and Janice Ridinger.

Phil’s greatest love was his family! He most truly, whole-heartedly, devoted his life to Sammie, Wes (March 31, 1985) and Quentin (April 5, 1989). Phil and Sammie’s parents, and grandparents, all grew up together as friends, in the Ozarks, as did Phil and Sammie. The two eventually fell in love and married on June 6, 1975, in Branson. Phil’s first job was for his granddad, IM Compton, at his service station, followed by construction work at Silver Dollar City, during his teen years. After he graduated Reeds Spring High School in 1971, Phil worked at three small marine shops and a truck repair facility until 1976. From 1976 to July 1985, he worked in maintenance and fabrication of tooling, for SRC Corporation in Springfield, MO. Over the years, Phil attended many Vo-Tech Schools and specialized training seminars. These included: Graff Vo-Tech in Springfield, I.I.T.R.I. (Railroad Procedures & Familiarization) in Chicago; Southern Pacific Transportation Co (Locomotive Operations) in Los Angeles; DLI Engineering in Bainbridge Island, WA, Entec IRD in Cleveland, OH; Universal Technologies in Aspen, CO; Radiatronics NDT in Shawnee, KS, and a few others. In 1985, Phil, Sammie and 6th month old Wes, moved to Wyoming. Phil worked for various construction companies, before being employed by Boeing Aerospace and Electronics Co., at Warren AFB, in Cheyenne. This was his most interesting and favorable position in his lifetime. This job took him, Sammie, Wes, and 6th month old Quentin, to Santa Maria, California, where he worked and trained on the Rail Garrison Peacekeeper Missile project, which eventually was canceled, leading Phil and family back to Cheyenne. He then obtained employment with Coastal Chem in Cheyenne, now Dyno Nobel. In 2005 he took a position as maintenance technician, at Platte River Power Authority, Rawhide Station, in northern Colorado, but chose to retain residence in Wyoming. Before Phil retired from PRPA in January of 2019, he became a Nationally Certified Crane Operator, which he thoroughly enjoyed. 

In his spare time, Phil loved going to the mountains, camping, fishing, target shooting and campfires, with family. Phil also enjoyed many horseback hunting trips with father-in-law, Duke & boys. Phil regularly visited his mother and siblings, in southwest Missouri, at least once a year, from the time he moved away. He dearly missed being near them, and other family and friends.

Phil enjoyed spending quality family time together on many wonderful vacations over the years. Phil always had a shop where he could work on many different projects, but mostly autos. He also enjoyed playing tennis, at the urging of his wife, for several years, and he was a long-time member of the NRA. Also to be noted, Phil, with Sammie at his side (and sons for the first one, Sue for the 2nd one), built two homes together, including their present home, where they resided, when he lost his battle with cancer. Phil was a believer in God, accepted Jesus as his Savior, and was ready to meet Them. 

Phil is survived by his wife, Sammie Rhoades Ridinger; sons & spouses, Wesley & Crystal Ridinger, of Ft. Collins, CO, and Quentin & Morgan Ridinger, of Richmond, TX; six grandchildren, Faith, Aeva, Hannah, Logan, Grant and Grady; siblings, Mimi Vance and spouse George, Springfield, MO, Brian Ridinger and spouse Sunshine, Hollister, MO; mother-in-law, Sue Rhoades, Guernsey; brothers-in-law, Jon Rhoades and spouse Denise, Loveland, CO, Luke Rhoades and spouse Sheila, Cheyenne; and many cousins, nieces and nephews, from Florida to Alaska. 

Phil was preceded in death by father, Roy Ridinger in 1984; mother, Janice Cook in 2022; grandparents, IM & Goldie Compton and Grover & Bertha Ridinger, and many aunts, uncles, and other family and friends. 

Services for Phil will be on Saturday, February 22nd, at 2:00pm, at Wiederspahn Radomsky Chapel of the Chimes Funeral Home, 1900 E. 19th St., Cheyenne, WY.

Cremation has taken place. Please join the family for a reception, immediately following the service, just across the street. Donations to your local church for God’s work and/or Huntington’s Disease Society of America are appreciated.

To send the family condolences please visit www.wrcfuneral.com