ONEONTA - Robert W. Riddell Sr., humble man of God, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, went to Heaven to be with his Maker. He was 81.

Bob's courageous battle with cancer ended peacefully on December 5, 2013 at home surrounded by his loving family.

Bob was the family patriarch, whose intelligence, good judgment, and overwhelming compassion and love, was often consulted and always esteemed. Without realizing it, his wisdom empowered others to do things they never thought possible. He was a mentor to many of his family and friends.

Born on the Ouleout in Meridale, New York, on January 12, 1932, to parents Neil and Mary (White) Riddell, he moved away from home at the tender age of 11 to make his mark in the world. He met his future wife, Mary Elizabeth Odell, at age 15 while attending Franklin Central School. After graduation, they married on April 1, 1951. Their first child, Leta Mae, was born 10 months later.

Scrappy and hardworking, Bob did what he had to do to provide for his growing family, and as such, became a master of many trades. He spent time as a butcher, carpenter, mailman, farmer, landowner, and later milk-hauler and entrepreneur. Self-taught and industrious, there was nothing Bob couldn't do if he put his mind to it.

In 1952 Bob ventured into the chicken business, starting with 8,000 egg-laying birds. By 1961 he had grown the business by more than six times to 53,000 started pullets. With his bare hands, he both built the chicken houses the new birds were caged in, and helped renovate his own expanding family's home.

In 1963, Bob bought a Chevy truck, and with it a business delivering bagged shavings to area farmers. That purchase laid the foundation for the milk-hauling firm Riddell Brothers. One of Bob's greatest passions in life was working alongside his son, Robert W. Riddell Jr., so in 1981 he decided to leave chicken farming permanently, to help Bobby run the new company.

Bob gave his life to the Lord and was baptized in 1958 at the First Baptist Church in Oneonta, New York. As his belief in Christ grew, he started his walk with Jesus, both preaching and teaching God's Word as a lay minister and Sunday school teacher.

Bob and Mary resided on South Side Drive in Oneonta from 1951 to 2003. He served as Councilman for the Town of Davenport as well as Trustee for the Oneonta Plains Cemetery. They made their retirement home in Inverness, Florida from 2003 to 2012. In 2004, Bob became an ordained Deacon at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Inverness. There he served and taught an adult Sunday school class. In 2012 they moved back home to Oneonta, New York, where he served briefly at Wesleyan Southside Church. He taught his last Sunday school class and preached his last sermon on Labor Day Sunday 2013. He often spoke on how the Lord has blessed him with a loving family of which he is so proud.

Survivors include his beloved wife of 62 years, Mary of Oneonta, three children, Leta Newhart of Whitehall, Pennsylvania; Robert W. Riddell Jr. and wife Carolee of Okatie, South Carolina; and Dorothy Iannello and husband Chuck of South New Berlin, New York; a sister Martha Edwards and husband Ted of Sidney, New York; and a brother, Neil Riddell and wife Linda of Otego, New York.

His legacy lives on in seven grandchildren, Alice O'Brien and husband Joe; Kelly Sadler and husband Frank; Heidi Hankins and husband Josh; Marci Riddell; Randi Riddell; Michael Barber and wife Sarah; and Leah Long and husband Shane. Also in eight great-grandchildren, Gabriel, Greta, Marcus, Lucas, Noah, Micah, Isaac, John Robert and an unborn great-grandson. Survivors also include many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Viewing will be held on Monday, December 9, 2013, 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, 51 Dietz Street, Oneonta, New York.

Funeral service on Tuesday, December 10, 2013, 11:00 am, First Baptist Church, 71 Chestnut Street, Oneonta, New York. Burial following service at Oneonta Plains Cemetery.

Donations honoring Bob's memory may be made to Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care at 1 Birchwood Drive, Oneonta, New York 13820.

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to, www.lhpfuneralhome.com