Robert Raphael Rider

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Robert Raphael Rider, 72, of Ridgway died on Monday, Oct. 19, 2009, at his home surrounded by his family after an extended illness. Bob, as most knew him, was born east of Ridgway in the Ponds Settlement community on Sept. 5, 1937, to the late Ray and Irma (Doherty) Rider.

Bob served his country in the Berlin Crisis in the Army for three years. He retired from farming years ago, but continued to work and was mayor of Ridgway for 24 years. He was always active in the community and his church. He was a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus where he had held many titles including, Past Grand Knight and Past Faithful Navigator. He was a member of the American Legion and VFW in Ridgway. He was a faithful member of the St. Joseph Church in Ridgway. He was a good father, brother, uncle and friend. Bob will be missed by the Gallatin County community.

Bob's survivors are sons, Todd (Stephanie) Rider of Ridgway, Damion (Tiffany) Rider of Ridgway, Tony Robinson of Florida, Danny Robinson of Idaho, David Hicks of California and Craig Buentgen of California; daughters, Stephanie Hanner of Fischers, Ind., and Jennifer Humphrey of Springfield; sisters, Judith (Bob) McGuire of Ridgway and Norma (Robert) Volkert of Carlinville; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Besides his parents, Bob was preceded in death by a son, Jon Rider and a granddaughter, Erin Beuntgen.

Visitation for Bob will be 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009, at the Cox and Son Funeral Home in Ridgway where a prayer service will start at 7 p.m., followed by the Knights of Columbus Chalice service. Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 23, 2009, at the St. Patricks Church in Ponds Settlement with Father Phillip DeVous celebrating the Mass. The interment will be in the church cemetery. Military rites will be conducted by the Ridgway American Legion and VFW at the gravesite.

In lieu of flowers, Bob asked that donations be made to the St. Patrick Cemetery or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

You may leave a on-line condolence at the Internet site www.coxandson.com.