Owen Riddle, Jr, 84, of Evansville passed away May 5, 2011 at Deaconess Hospice Center of Evansville, IN. He was born in Enosville, IN on January 8, 1927.

He graduated from Spurgeon High School in 1945, playing varsity basketball all four years and his senior year was captain of the team and salutatorian of his class. Just four days after graduating he was drafted into the US Army. In the Army he went to AGF Parachute School in Ft. Benning, GA. After graduation he was assigned to the 82 Airborn Division, Ft. Bragg, NC. While stationed At Ft. Bragg, he played basketball with the Ft. Bragg Post Team. They played such teams as Wake Forest, High Point, North Fork Naval Air Station, Camp Perry, etc. He was also a member of the All-Star Service Command Team. Owen was then assigned to the 1449th Army Service Unit in Ft. Graf, NC.

He received his Bachelor of Science in Education from Oakland City College in June 1949 while playing varsity basketball. He also received his Master's Degree from IU in Physical Education and Recreation.

Owen was head coach and assistant principal at Hebbardsville High School, playing professional basketball with Toledo Ohio Mercuries and Agoga of Evansville. He was head basketball and assistant football coach at Elizabethtown, KY, also coaching at Dennis Jr. High in Richmond, IN and Dyer Jr. High in Bloomington, IN. In 1963 he took a sales representative job with Houghton Mufflin – a company that published school textbooks, retiring in 1991 after 28 years of service.

He was involved in many organizations including the Indianapolis Scottish Rite for 44 years, Shriner's International, Oakland City Blue Lodge Masons, Hadi Shriner's Golf Club of Evansville, Varsity Club as a Hoosier One Hundred at IU and United States Bowling Congress member. He had lifetime memberships of the Elks Club, IU Alumni and the Professions Bookmen's Association. He attended Christian Fellowship Church since 1994 and was an avid golfer and bowler.

Owen was preceded in death by his parents Owen, Sr. and Margaret Ann Riddle; sisters Colleen and Janet.

He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather who is survived by his wife of 60 years Joan; daughter Debi Daily and husband Mark of Haubstadt, IN; son David Riddle and wife Jean of Tampa, FL; grandchildren Melissa MacIsaac and husband Charlie of Terre Haute, IN, Brent Daily of Evansville, Brandon Riddle and wife Jayne, Thayne Riddle, Brooke Kaarto and husband Robert all of Battleground, WA; 7 great grandchildren, 5 nieces and 3 nephews.

Visitation will be from 2:00 – 8:00 Friday, May 6, 2011 at Ziemer Funeral Home East Chapel, 800 S. Hebron Ave., Evansville, IN 47714 and from 11:00 - 2:00 pm Saturday May 7, 2011 at the funeral home.

Funeral service will be at 2:00 pm Saturday, May 7, 2011 at the funeral home with Rev. Spencer Downs officiating.

Burial will be at Montgomery Cemetery in Oakland City, IN where the Retired Veterans Memorial Club will conduct graveside services.