Clee R. Ridenour, 81, Former Sheffield Village Councilman

He was born July 8, 1926 in Lorain and had resided in Sheffield Village for the past 52 years moving from Lorain where he had lived for 20 years.

Clee graduated from Lorain High School with the class of 1944B. He attended Ohio State University for 1 year and then was drafted into the US Army where he served from 1946-1947. He was awarded the WWII Victory Medal and American Theater Ribbon. He later completed his studies and received his degree in electrical design from Ohio State.

Clee was employed as an Electrical Designer for the National Tube Company, US Steel, USX and USS/Kobe Steel Company in Lorain for 52 years retiring in 1998.

He was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Lorain where he served as an usher for over 40 years, was a member of the Holy Name Society and served as a councilman during the building of the present church in 1967 at the corner of Grove Avenue and Homewood Drive.

Clee served on Sheffield Village council for 16 years, on the Sheffield Village Planning Commission for 12 years, the Board of Public Affairs for 4 years and the Recreation Board for 4 years. He was Sheffield Village Democratic Precinct Committee person for precinct #1 for 12 years.

He was a member of USWA Local #1104 for 4 years and USWA Local #2354 for 47 years and served as its treasurer for 22 years, First Catholic Slovak Union #228 and Slovak Sokols #188 where he was a past officer and the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity.

For many years Clee helped people complete and file their income tax returns.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years Marcella (nee Yasher), son Robert Ridenour of Hickory, North Carolina, grandchildren Nathan Ridenour and Christa Ridenour both of Amherst, Wendy O’Neil of Sheffield Lake, Anthony Ridenour of Lorain and Brittany Ridenour and Blaine Ridenour, both of Hickory, NC, great grandchildren Zachary Ridenour, Matthew Ridenour and Ashlyn Ridenour and sisters Margaret Brown of Sheffield Village and Charlene Milovich of Grove City, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his son Clee R. Ridenour, Jr in 2001, parents William & Dilly Mae Ridenour (nee Heishman) and several brothers and sisters.

The family will receive friends Thursday 2-4, 7-9 p.m. at the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel, 3224 Broadway Avenue, Lorain where the Holy Name and Altar & Rosary Societys of St. John Church will recite the rosary Thursday at 3:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held Friday at 9:30 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, 2143 Homewood Drive Lorain. The Rev. Thomas Smith, pastor, will officiate. Burial will follow in Ridge Hill Memorial Park in Amherst Township.

Memorial contributions can be made to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Endowment Fund, 2143 Homewood Drive, Lorain, OH 44055.

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