Frank Edward Ridoux

Frank Edward Ridoux, 70, died Wednesday, July 10, 2019, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He is survived by his wife of nearly 49 years, Marty (Farnsworth).

Born and raised in Kokomo, he was a graduate of Kokomo High School and the Valedictorian of the Class of 1967, which included over 820 students. He continued his education at Purdue University where he received a BS in Electrical Engineering.   He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity, as were his father and brother.
 
Married on September 5, 1970, he and wife Marty finished their degrees at Purdue and then moved to South Bend, Indiana, where Frank began his career at Bendix Corporation. After the birth of their daughter, Lori Ann, in 1973, they moved back to Kokomo where Frank worked for Delco/Delphi Electronics Corporation until his retirement in 2004. He served six years in the National Guard where he was honorably discharged on April 3, 1977. 

Following retirement, he developed an avid interest in art, especially watercolors.  He later expanded his work to include soft pastels and acrylics. He began entering art shows at the Kokomo Arts Association (KAA) in the spring of 2006 where he earned first and third place awards in the non-professional class. He won the Mayor’s Choice award in 2007 and the Judge’s Choice award in 2010. That year he also received the Lydia Hankemeier Aspiring Artist Award for the KAA. He was in the first group of artists selected to represent Kokomo on the downtown Art Walk.

His other interests included many years as part of the Kokomo Men of Note barbershop group and his church choir. He enjoyed fishing, cross-country skiing, and running, completing several mini and full marathons. He and Marty spent many happy weeks on St. Simon’s Island, GA, where they loved family time, the beach, long walks together and birding.

Frank’s inspiring strength of character was revealed as he bravely fought Parkinson’s in every way he could. He especially enjoyed being a part of the YMCA Rock Steady boxing group.

In addition to his wife, he will be lovingly missed by his daughter, Lori (David) Rash, Frederick, MD; grandchildren, Sarah and Jacob Rash, Frederick, MD; brother, John (Linda) Ridoux, Louisville, KY; sister, Ann (Mike) Miles, Carmel, IN; sisters-in-law Susan (Dan) Barco, Durham, NC; and Kathryn Farnsworth, Fort Wayne, IN; brother-in-law, Jim (Carol) Farnsworth, Houston, TX; nieces, Meghan Bodenberg, Carmel, IN; Jennie Fisher, Granger, IN; Stephanie and Kellie Miles, Carmel, IN; Christian (Joey) Fox, Noblesville, IN; Mary Corinne Lowenstein, Fort Wayne, IN; Elizabeth Farnsworth, Katy, TX; and nephews, Brett Ridoux, Carmel, IN; Andrew Barco, Chicago, IL; Matthew Miles, Los Angeles, CA; Tim Barco, Durham, NC; Solomon Lowenstein, Arcata, CA; Mason Lowenstein, Ft. Wayne, IN; and William Farnsworth, Dallas, TX.

His parents, Edward and Maria Ridoux; and his in-laws, Walt and Mary Farnsworth, preceded him in death. 

A Celebration of Life service will begin at 1 pm. at Christ Lutheran Church, 3401 South Dixon Road, Kokomo, on Monday, July 15, 2019.  Interment will follow in Kokomo Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation with family will be from 11-1 pm Monday at the church.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Christ Lutheran Church, Kokomo or The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at michaeljfox.org, or by mail at: Donation Processing, The Michael J. Fox Foundation, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014.  Shirley & Stout Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.  Messages of condolence may be left online at www.shirleyandstout.com.  

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.