Dorothy Riddle Obituary

Dorothy Lee Hunt Riddle
6/9/1934 – 6/26/2025
In Celebration of our Matriarch – The Little Engine that Could – and DID! You are our Hero Mom!
Born Saturday, 6/9/34, in Robeson County, NC, the 2nd child and only daughter of Daniel Worth and Latha Dell Carter Hunt, Dottie spent her early years in NC, moving to Virginia after high school. It was there she met future husband Dean. Married in Norfolk, Virginia, January 3, 1958, they made their home in Missouri and raised 3 children. Survivors include: her children, Theresa Struemph (Stanley), children Jacob and Elizabeth, Lisa Bailey (Wayne, Jr.), Dean (Jr.) Riddle, daughter Rylie Riddle (Blake Breshears), son Michael Riddle; great grandchildren, Carsen Pegelow, Callie Pegelow, Cayden Riddle and Kaelyn Breshears, Savanna Breshears.
Also surviving are sister-in-law, Phyllis Riddle, several nieces and nephews, many cousins and their families, and a plethora of caring friends whom she considered family.
Dottie retired from ConAgra foods in Milan after 34 years. She was an Avon representative for many years, a server at several restaurants, and worked part-time at the Milan Standard newspaper. Her quick wit, sense of humor, and love of the Lord were constants throughout her years. Her big heart compensated for her lack of height.
Having 5 brothers, Dottie learned to love sports at an early age and continued throughout her lifetime. Favorites included – Earl Anthony, Tiger Woods, North Carolina college basketball teams, Atlanta Braves, Kansas City Chiefs, among others. She once joked she might crawl into Tiger Woods's golf bag and hide while he played. She was also a big fan of Milan Wildcat sports, particularly football, softball, and basketball.
For several years she enjoyed women's league bowling on Thursday nights at Cherokee Bowl and was a member of state-winning Missouri Championship teams in the 1980s.
Dottie was a faithful servant of the Lord. She was a member of Pentecostal Lighthouse church, her most recent position being Missions Secretary. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Milan.
She never owned a car nor had a driver's license, but managed to travel via car, plane, train, and bus with a myriad of friends through the US and portions of Canada, attending two World Fairs. She made sure her children visited Washington, D.C., so they might understand the government and our rights as citizens. Road trips to North Carolina to see family always included room for an extra friend.
Dottie's love of yard-saling and helping people relayed into a series of thrift stores in Milan, most recently "Not Thru Yet" on the west side of the square. She officially retired from this endeavor at the end of May 2025. She washed and ironed nearly every piece of clothing she brought to the store – still ironing 5 pieces daily at the age of 90. She loved Jeopardy (particularly Alex Trebek), Survivor, country and gospel music, playing pitch and board games, embroidery, Pepsi/Diet Pepsi, catfish, pecans, vegetables, and sweets. She also made and sold pumpkin cake rolls and pecan tarts for several years.
Funeral services for Dottie will be held 1:00 PM, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at Ruschmeier-Smith Funeral Home in Milan. Burial will follow at Baker Cemetery, Southeast of Milan. A visitation is scheduled for two hours prior, starting at 11:00 AM at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to youth activities (sports/4-H) in Milan, Sullivan County Memorial Hospital or Sullivan County Multi-Purpose Senior Center.