Franky Ridge passed away on July 29, 2019 at Skilled Care of Mexia at the age of 65.
George Franklin “Franky” Ridge was born February 2, 1954 at Mexia Hospital in Mexia, Texas. His parents Clyde Sr. “Hardhead” and Mary Patterson Ridge were lifelong residents of Wortham, Texas.
Franky graduated from Wortham High School, class of 1972. After graduated he attended both Navarro Jr. College and Bryan College at Dayton Tennessee with studies in Theology. He worked at Wortham Hospital during high school and then began a career with Marathon Oil Company, retiring in 2016 after 33 years, 10 months and 9 days. He would tell you quickly “and I enjoyed every minute of time at Marathon”.
He accepted Christ at Kirvin Baptist Church in 1975 and became an ordained deacon there in October 1978 and later moved his membership to First Baptist Church Wortham, where he served as deacon there until his passing. He was often called on to lead the singing at Community 5th Sunday singings were he began the services with a joke on hand for all to hear. He loved to make people laugh and smile, always. He was also the Community Santa for many years, riding in on Wortham’s Fire Truck to the kid’s delight. Hunting anything that they could was always a Ridge Tradition.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Don Allen Ridge in 2015; nephew, Justin Ridge; wife, Ann Ridge and Father-in-Law, Robert Baldree.
Survivors include the “light of his life” daughter Jenny Ridge. Two brothers Commissioner Clyde Ridge Jr. of Kirvin and Darrell Ridge of Wortham, 3 sister-in-laws Angie Ridge, Becky Ridge of Wortham and Carol Emola of Forney. Mother-in-law Estelle Baldree of Freestone, Nieces and nephews Joey, Chad, Whitney, Kristi and Shelby and several great nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held at the First Baptist Church Wortham on Thursday, August 1, 2019 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. with the funeral services immediately following visitation at 1:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church Wortham with Reverend Justin Colquette and Chaplain Karen Hulsey officiating.
It can be said about Franky Ridge “he never met a stranger, he started a conversation with anyone in ear shot and everyone enjoyed his great belly laugh, he will be missed by us all.
Memorials may be made to Virginia’s Hospice, 309 Main Street, Teague, TX 75860.
Serving as pallbearers will be Clyde Ridge, Jr, Darrell Ridge, Eric Samford, Ronald Davis, Rickey Ridge and Eric Batts. Honorary pallbearers will be First Baptist Church Wortham deacons and Chad Ridge, Joey Ridge, Jimmy Baugh, Bill Capers, Lonnie Beldin, and Phil Whatley.
An online guest book is available at www.corleyporterfuneralhome.com and by selecting the George Franklin “Franky” Ridge obituary.
Corley-Porter Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
