Judge Marilyn Ann Riddel
– (August 22, 1932-February 11, 2018)
Marilyn, known to her close friends as “Myrt,” was born in Fremont, Ohio, and entered His Holy Kingdom on February 11, 2018. Marilyn attended Laurel, an all-girls private school in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Laurel’s Mission Statement is “To inspire each girl to fulfill her promise and to better the world.” and Marilyn did this and much more! Upon High School graduation, Marilyn spent time in London, England with her school teacher parents, Fred and Helen McClintock, who were teaching on a US Army base. She returned to the US and attended Bowling Green State University for two years, then transferred to Louisiana State University to start the Gamma Zeta chapter of Delta Gamma Sorority. At LSU, Marilyn was DG Chapter President, a member of Mortar Board and the Debate Team, and Phi Betta Kappa. After graduation from LSU, she attended night school at the University of Toledo where she earned her LLB and Juris Doctorate degrees while working at a bank during the day.
At the University of Toledo Law School, Marilyn met her husband, Harold (“Hal”) Riddel. They married in 1960 and moved to Arizona where they practiced law together for thirteen years until 1969 when Marilyn was appointed by Arizona Governor Jack Williams to succeed the late Judge Charles Ronan. Marilyn served as Arizona Superior Court Judge until her retirement in 1993. Judge Riddel held numerous Board positions and was actively involved in many civic and philanthropic organizations including Daughters of the American Revolution, Delta Gamma Sorority, Habitat for Humanity, Foundation for Blind Children, Soroptomist, BPW, PEO, Salvation Army, InterFaith Cooperative Ministries, American/Arizona/Maricopa Bar Associations, and served as an Elder for Memorial Presbyterian and Valley Presbyterian Churches.
Marilyn enjoyed seeing the world with her friends and church groups and instilled this love of travel in her daughter and grandchildren. She spent many wonderful summers with her friends in the White Mountains of Arizona, was an avid reader, and crossworder, loved to play Bridge, Pinochle and Mahjong, and attended various Bible Studies. She loved flowers and bright colors, and will always be remembered for her beautiful smile, warm hugs and kind, caring words for others.
Marilyn is preceded in death by her husband, Harold Riddel, and son, Jeff Riddel. She is survived by her daughter, Debbie Broermann, and grandchildren, Chelsey, Cole, Kelly and Heather Broermann, all of Phoenix, Arizona. Services to celebrate the blessed life of Marilyn Riddel will be held: March 8, 2018 at 10:00 am at Valley Presbyterian Church, 6947 E. McDonald Drive, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253 and
March 9 at 10:00 am at Westminster Village, 12000 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85260.
In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to one of Marilyn’s favorite organizations: Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, Central Arizona Shelter Services, Foundation for Blind Children, and Hospice of the Valley.