Obituary: Keith Elton Ridgway

Beloved husband, father and grandpa Keith Elton Ridgway passed away peacefully on Feb. 3, 2009, at Hospice Family Care after a very long and courageous battle with cancer. He fought the good fight.

Keith was born on Feb. 4, 1930, in Los Angeles, Calif., to Russell and Cynthia Ridgway. He attended California Military Academy, spending summers at Woodcraft Rangers in Lake Arrowhead, later becoming a camp counselor. After graduating from Glendale College, he served his country in Korea for two years. On Sept. 11, 1954, he married Natalie "Lee" Noel Hollis and they had twins, Mark Allan and Diana Lee.

Having had two years of law school, he shifted his goals to create his own business, K.E. Ridgway and Associates Inc., collecting delinquent student loans, servicing colleges, universities and proprietary schools throughout three western states for 25 years. Keith thought he would retire in Prescott, but entered the field of real estate. He attributed much of his success and many awards to his co-workers, Jack Goeser and Jim Speights of West USA Realty.

Keith's hobbies over the years included landscaping, photography, and building and flying his own radio-controlled airplanes. He was an avid reader, preferring history and biographies. Houseboating in the early 1990s with his wife Lee and friends quenched his thirst for the beauty of nature.

For over 35 years he displayed a plaque in his home with the following quote: "The pursuit of excellence in the face of adversity is invariably matched by the glory of the result." That exemplified Keith's free spirit.

Keith is survived by his wife, two children, and granddaughter Aubree Dawn Ridgway.

God bless you, Dad - we love you and we miss you.

The family wishes to thank best friend and Hospice volunteer Sharon Lopez for her constant loving support.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Hospice Family Care, 100 E. Sheldon, Suite 100, Prescott, AZ 86301.

The family was assisted by Heritage Memory Mortuary in Prescott, Ariz.

Information provided by survivors.