Barbara (Applegate) Ridgway

Barbara Applegate Ridgway, age 73, passed peacefully Sunday, September 8, 2019, surrounded by her loving husband and children. She was born October 27, 1945, in Des Moines, Iowa to Clifford and Alene (Butler) Applegate. She married Michael “Mike” Ridgway on November 27, 1965, in Iowa. She and Mike built a Realty business together and they successfully ran Ridgway Realty for 29 years.

Barbara wore many hats in her lifetime. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, adored grandmother, and cherished great-grandmother. There are many words that could describe her, but a few that came to her grandchildren’s minds were: loving, strong, beautiful, kind, tender, accepting, insightful, and unconditional. She was quick to throw something in the “warsh” and encourage us to “nuke” our cake donut in the microwave. When the cold-rolled in the question we knew grandma would ask, “where is your coat?” Barbara’s main purpose in life was her family and each member felt her love in the deepest part of their hearts.

Barbara is survived by her husband, Mike; children, Patrick (Malissa) Ridgway, David (Kellie) Ridgway, Thomas (Cindy) Ridgway, and Melinda (Ray) Perry; grandchildren, Nathan Daniel, Riley Ridgway, Ashley (Anthony) Williams, Brian Ridgway, Joseph (Morgan) Ridgway, Danielle (James) O’Neal, Haley Ridgway, Monica Ridgway, Hannah Ridgway, Elizabeth Perry, William Perry, Shaina Perry, Collin Perry, Ashley Perry, Ethan Perry; and great-grandchildren, Camren O’Neal, Mason O’Neal, Amelia O’Neal, and Carson Ridgway.

Special thanks to the NSICU staff at Rex Hospital for your outstanding care and to Dr. Boles, Oncologist for your continued and unwavering support until the end. The family will forever be grateful for your service in her life.

A service to celebrate her life will be held at 6:00 pm, Thursday, September 12, 2019 at Stony Hill Free Will Baptist Church, 9649 Stoney Hill Church Road, Middlesex, NC 27557. Visitation will follow in the Family Life Center.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html?sc_icid=header-btn-donate-now

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