Page 75 - History of the United Methodist Church in Rockingham County
P. 75
History of Congregations of Winchester District June 12, 2024
Loreeda Ruth Jones Niemann, 89, went to be with her Lord and Savior Sep. 23, 2013, in
Kingsport, Tenn., where she had made her home for the past several years. She was born Nov. 3,
1923 in Coeburn, the daughter of Chester Boyce and Susan Pearl Carico Jones. She was a 1949
graduate of Emory & Henry College with a degree in English. To further fund her education, she
taught one year at St. Paul High School. In 1952, with a Master’s Degree in Bible and Theology,
she graduated from Scarlett College and Vanderbilt University School of Religion. She was then
named the Director of Christian Education from 1952 until 1960 at the Asbury UMC,
Harrisonburg. In 1960, she accepted the position of Director of Christian Education at Harris
Memorial Methodist Church, Honolulu, Hawaii, where she remained until 1963. At that time, she was
commissioned a diaconal minister of The United Methodist Church; she served as a campus minister at the
Wesley Foundation, creating a vitally active program involving both students and faculty at Mary Washington
College. In 1970 under her leadership, the Wesley Foundation became ecumenical. With its name changed to the
Campus Christian Center, it included participation by local Methodist, Lutheran, Episcopal, and Presbyterian
churches, welcoming the students for all of those denominations. She retired from her position as campus
minister in 1987 and married. She enjoyed reading, traveling, and community activities, and she served as
program chairman of Wesleyan Circle and The Merry Makers. She was an active member of the Fredericksburg
UMC. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Ralph A. Niemann; brothers, Harold, Blaine and
Clyde; sisters, Evelyn Grizzle, Pauline Farmer, and Avanell Ringley. She is survived by her sister Margaret Ann
Dunning, Newport News and several nieces and nephews. Mrs. Niemann’s desire, upon her death, was to be
interred beside her beloved husband in the Oak Hill Cemetery, Fredericksburg. A celebration of her life was held
at the cemetery Oct. 5th.
Ernest Wesley Pettit, 80, of Staunton, formerly of Harrisonburg and Winchester, died Oct. 24, 2000, at his
home. Mr. Pettit was born May 7, 1920, in Broadway, the son of Ernest Wilbur and Florence Cline Petit. He
worked for Rockingham Poultry Marketing Co-op from 1940 to 1985. He was a graduate of Broadway High
School. He was a U.S. Army WWII veteran and participated in the Battle of the Bulge. He was a member of
Asbury UMC in Harrisonburg, Lions Clubs of Winchester and Burlington, N.C., and Broadway Ruritan Club. He
was married to Helen Wood for 58 years. Surviving with his wife are two daughters, Patricia Pettit Seaton of
Staunton and Sandra Pettit Childers of Charlotte, N.C.; a brother, Walter Miller Petit of Harrisonburg; four
grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and two step-great-grandchildren. A private
service was held with William Seaton and Dr. John Peterson officiating. Burial was in Eastlawn Memorial
Gardens, Harrisonburg. Friends called at the home of his daughter, Patricia Seaton, Staunton. Memorials were to
be made to Rockingham Memorial Hospital Hospice Program, 235 Cantrell Ave., Harrisonburg, VA 22801.
Arrangements by Kyger & Trobaugh Funeral Home, Harrisonburg.
Barbara Johnson Forward Riddleberger, age 79, died June 11, 2014, in Harrisonburg, at home. Barbara
was born Oct. 17, 1934, a daughter of Edward Hampton Johnson and Talma Elizabeth Zell Johnson of Narrows.
Barbara grew up in Narrows, graduating from Narrows High School in 1952. She then attended Madison
College, graduating in 1956 with a B.S. degree in education. On July 21, 1956, Barbara married Dr. F. Bruce
Forward Jr., who preceded her in death in 1975. She was also preceded in death by her parents and sister,
Elizabeth Ann Simmons. On June 11, 1979, she married H. D. “Ike” Riddleberger, who has preceded her in death
on June 6, 2014. Barbara is survived by a brother, William Johnson; a brother-in-law, Jim Simmons; and three
children, Beth Burgess and husband, John, of Portsmouth, R.I.; Katherine Forward of Richmond; and Bruce
Forward of Penn Laird. Surviving also are grandchildren, Will Burgess and wife, Brittany; David Burgess; Jack
Burgess; Sam Burgess; Katie Forward; and Beau Forward. Also surviving are stepchildren, Jan Keaton of
Dayton, and Julie Riddleberger of Scottsville. Surviving step-grandchildren are Becky Mills and husband, Mark,
of Farmville; Debbie Forticelli and husband, David, of Richmond; and Liz Marshall and husband, Tom, of
Seattle, Wash. Surviving step-great-grandchildren are Joseph, Daniel, Aaron, David, Amy, Adam and Jonathan.
Barbara taught school in Charlottesville, Harrisonburg city schools, and Rockingham Co. She also was a
substitute teacher. She was an active member of Asbury UMC, where she taught Sunday school and was a
member of the adult choir for many years. She was also a member of the Spotswood Garden Club and sang in the
Shenandoah Valley Choral Society for many wonderful years. The family received friends Lindsey Funeral
Home in Harrisonburg. A graveside service was held June 16th at Eastlawn Memorial Gardens and a memorial
service followed Asbury UMC with the Rev. Dr. Stephen Hay officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requested
that donations be made to the Hahn Cancer Center or Asbury UMC Music Ministry.
II.B.1 Asbury UMC 63 Volume 5
Loreeda Ruth Jones Niemann, 89, went to be with her Lord and Savior Sep. 23, 2013, in
Kingsport, Tenn., where she had made her home for the past several years. She was born Nov. 3,
1923 in Coeburn, the daughter of Chester Boyce and Susan Pearl Carico Jones. She was a 1949
graduate of Emory & Henry College with a degree in English. To further fund her education, she
taught one year at St. Paul High School. In 1952, with a Master’s Degree in Bible and Theology,
she graduated from Scarlett College and Vanderbilt University School of Religion. She was then
named the Director of Christian Education from 1952 until 1960 at the Asbury UMC,
Harrisonburg. In 1960, she accepted the position of Director of Christian Education at Harris
Memorial Methodist Church, Honolulu, Hawaii, where she remained until 1963. At that time, she was
commissioned a diaconal minister of The United Methodist Church; she served as a campus minister at the
Wesley Foundation, creating a vitally active program involving both students and faculty at Mary Washington
College. In 1970 under her leadership, the Wesley Foundation became ecumenical. With its name changed to the
Campus Christian Center, it included participation by local Methodist, Lutheran, Episcopal, and Presbyterian
churches, welcoming the students for all of those denominations. She retired from her position as campus
minister in 1987 and married. She enjoyed reading, traveling, and community activities, and she served as
program chairman of Wesleyan Circle and The Merry Makers. She was an active member of the Fredericksburg
UMC. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Ralph A. Niemann; brothers, Harold, Blaine and
Clyde; sisters, Evelyn Grizzle, Pauline Farmer, and Avanell Ringley. She is survived by her sister Margaret Ann
Dunning, Newport News and several nieces and nephews. Mrs. Niemann’s desire, upon her death, was to be
interred beside her beloved husband in the Oak Hill Cemetery, Fredericksburg. A celebration of her life was held
at the cemetery Oct. 5th.
Ernest Wesley Pettit, 80, of Staunton, formerly of Harrisonburg and Winchester, died Oct. 24, 2000, at his
home. Mr. Pettit was born May 7, 1920, in Broadway, the son of Ernest Wilbur and Florence Cline Petit. He
worked for Rockingham Poultry Marketing Co-op from 1940 to 1985. He was a graduate of Broadway High
School. He was a U.S. Army WWII veteran and participated in the Battle of the Bulge. He was a member of
Asbury UMC in Harrisonburg, Lions Clubs of Winchester and Burlington, N.C., and Broadway Ruritan Club. He
was married to Helen Wood for 58 years. Surviving with his wife are two daughters, Patricia Pettit Seaton of
Staunton and Sandra Pettit Childers of Charlotte, N.C.; a brother, Walter Miller Petit of Harrisonburg; four
grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and two step-great-grandchildren. A private
service was held with William Seaton and Dr. John Peterson officiating. Burial was in Eastlawn Memorial
Gardens, Harrisonburg. Friends called at the home of his daughter, Patricia Seaton, Staunton. Memorials were to
be made to Rockingham Memorial Hospital Hospice Program, 235 Cantrell Ave., Harrisonburg, VA 22801.
Arrangements by Kyger & Trobaugh Funeral Home, Harrisonburg.
Barbara Johnson Forward Riddleberger, age 79, died June 11, 2014, in Harrisonburg, at home. Barbara
was born Oct. 17, 1934, a daughter of Edward Hampton Johnson and Talma Elizabeth Zell Johnson of Narrows.
Barbara grew up in Narrows, graduating from Narrows High School in 1952. She then attended Madison
College, graduating in 1956 with a B.S. degree in education. On July 21, 1956, Barbara married Dr. F. Bruce
Forward Jr., who preceded her in death in 1975. She was also preceded in death by her parents and sister,
Elizabeth Ann Simmons. On June 11, 1979, she married H. D. “Ike” Riddleberger, who has preceded her in death
on June 6, 2014. Barbara is survived by a brother, William Johnson; a brother-in-law, Jim Simmons; and three
children, Beth Burgess and husband, John, of Portsmouth, R.I.; Katherine Forward of Richmond; and Bruce
Forward of Penn Laird. Surviving also are grandchildren, Will Burgess and wife, Brittany; David Burgess; Jack
Burgess; Sam Burgess; Katie Forward; and Beau Forward. Also surviving are stepchildren, Jan Keaton of
Dayton, and Julie Riddleberger of Scottsville. Surviving step-grandchildren are Becky Mills and husband, Mark,
of Farmville; Debbie Forticelli and husband, David, of Richmond; and Liz Marshall and husband, Tom, of
Seattle, Wash. Surviving step-great-grandchildren are Joseph, Daniel, Aaron, David, Amy, Adam and Jonathan.
Barbara taught school in Charlottesville, Harrisonburg city schools, and Rockingham Co. She also was a
substitute teacher. She was an active member of Asbury UMC, where she taught Sunday school and was a
member of the adult choir for many years. She was also a member of the Spotswood Garden Club and sang in the
Shenandoah Valley Choral Society for many wonderful years. The family received friends Lindsey Funeral
Home in Harrisonburg. A graveside service was held June 16th at Eastlawn Memorial Gardens and a memorial
service followed Asbury UMC with the Rev. Dr. Stephen Hay officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requested
that donations be made to the Hahn Cancer Center or Asbury UMC Music Ministry.
II.B.1 Asbury UMC 63 Volume 5
