JoAnn Riddle

JoAnn Riddle, 89, of Anderson, passed away on April 1, 2026, at the Richland Bean Blossom Health Care Facility. She was born on July 13, 1936, in Anderson, Indiana.
JoAnn married Thomas Henry Riddle on June 25, 1953. During the early years of their marriage, they helped care for Henry's younger siblings. Jo was a natural caregiver, always willing to offer a helping hand.
She was a stay-at-home mother while raising her three boys. As they grew older, she began selling Avon and eventually went to work for Anderson Community Schools, where she later retired as a Cafeteria Manager.
JoAnn loved to travel. She and Henry traveled with his sister Mary and her husband Bob to Hawaii, and later visited Cancun and Florida with Jack and Melissa. JoAnn and Mary continued traveling together for many years, enjoying bus trips, shopping, and sightseeing.
Family trips were always special to JoAnn. When the boys were young, the family took many trips to Tennessee. Their final family vacation together was to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where they enjoyed visiting the lighthouses.
JoAnn and Henry were avid campers. For many years, they maintained a permanent campsite at S&H Campground in Greenfield and later at Hidden Lake Campground in Fairmount. At both locations, their site was next to her brother Mike and his wife, Sherry. Nearly every week from April to October was spent camping. Many birthdays, anniversaries, and family gatherings were celebrated at the campground around "Big Mike's" never-ending fire.
JoAnn loved flowers, especially roses and yellow pansies. In her free time, she enjoyed quilting and cooking. She made several quilts for family members and a baby quilt for nearly every grandchild. No family gathering was complete without Granny's chicken and noodles.
JoAnn is survived by her sons, Mike (Sandy) Riddle, William Jay (Vicky) Riddle, and Jack (Melissa) Riddle; grandchildren, Staci Riddle (fiancé Dustin Gentry), Tejay (Ashley) Riddle, Kacey (Barry) Clairage, Ben (Michelle) Riddle, Eli Riddle, Kevin Gravitt, Zachary (Kelly) Riddle, Luke Riddle and Nathaniel Staggs; eight great-grandchildren; and her brother Mike Clifford.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Thomas Henry Riddle; her father, Ralph (Geneva) Clifford; her mother, Thelma Lorene Clifford; and her sister, Sandy Mullins.
Visitation will be held on Friday, April 10, 2026, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at Loose Funeral Homes and Crematory, 200 West 53rd Street, Anderson, Indiana.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 10, 2026, at 1:00 pm at the funeral home. Burial will take place at Anderson Memorial Park Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Madison County Humane Society.