Commissioner: Ridling was 'partner at work and a friend away from work'

Curry County Commissioner James Ridling's fellow commissioners remember him as a nice person who was conscientious about his commission duties.

Ridling, 69, died on Saturday.

He had served as a District 2 commissioner since January after being elected for the first time in November.

To District 1 Commissioner Robert Sandoval, Ridling had been a "partner at work and a friend away from work" for nearly 40 years. Both had worked for the U.S. Postal Service since 1982.

"I retired in 2000," Sandoval said, "and he stayed on until just a few years ago when he retired."

Sandoval said he was "very happy" when Ridling was elected to the commission in November.

Their partnership continued as commissioners.

"We spoke to each other a couple times a week," he said.

In Ridling's eight months on the commission, Sandoval said, he had proven to be "a great commissioner."

"He would research every issue," he said, "and he never asked a stupid question."

Ridling had attended the two most recent commission meetings by phone because he had tested positive for COVID-19, and "was quarantining himself," District 3 Commissioner Chet Spear said.

"I was in shock," Spear said upon hearing Ridling died.

Ridling was a "good commissioner," Spear said. "He was really involved and did his homework on water, inspection issues and the fair.

"He was one of the good guys."

District 5 Commissioner and Chair Robert Thornton said Ridling was a "really, really nice man. Some people are nice, but he was a really, really great individual."

Ridling was "very studious," Thornton said, and "took care of business as much as he could" on county matters. He was very refreshing."

District 4 Commissioner Seth Martin said Ridling's death "is a great loss" in his capacities "as a commissioner and as a resident of his community."

"He brought a whole different set of knowledge" to the commission, Martin said, because of his background in agriculture and his work for the postal service. "He had very well-rounded knowledge."

Before joining the postal service in 1982, Ridling had worked locally for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Services Agency.

Besides his immediate family, Martin said, Ridling had an "extended family" many may not have known about.

"He took care of a lot of people" through his work and his involvement with the Melrose Rotary Club, he said.

Spear and Martin said they heard Ridling had been ill but it was their understanding he was on the mend and looking forward to returning to the commission. Spear said he and Ridling had a phone conversation just a few days prior to Saturday.

"He had a hacking cough, but said he was doing OK," Spear said.

Services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday at First Baptist Church in Melrose. Ridling's obituary from Muffley Funeral home emphasized to "please honor the family's request and wear a face covering to the memorial."