Judith Ann RickelMENTONE – Judith Ann Rickel, 84, of rural Mentone, received her new life and body in heaven at 9:37 p.m. Friday, March 18, 2022, at Paddock Springs of Warsaw.
Judy was born on Feb. 4, 1938, in Allen County, to the late William and Esther Deatsman Rodocker. She married on Feb. 24, 1955, in Etna Green, to Francis Dwight Rickel; he survives.
She was a 1956 graduate of Atwood High School and was honored as the Queen of the Kosciusko County Fair. Judy then became a loving housewife and homemaker. She had also worked for Zimmer Orthopedics of Warsaw for a few years. She was a member of the Burket United Methodist Church and formerly a member of the Order of the Eastern Stars. Judy and Francis were also members of the Christian Motorcycle Association. They rode their motorcycle from east to west, seeing most of the United States. She enjoyed wintering with her husband in Texas as well as fishing, hunting, archery and flying planes.
She is survived by her husband, Francis Rickel, of Mentone; children: Francis “Rick” Rickel Jr. and wife Evelyn, of Mentone; Tony and wife Janice Rickel, of Pleasant Hill, Mo.; and Patsy and husband Gary Bray, of Milford; 13 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Terry and wife Barbara Rodocker, of Arkansas.
Judith was preceded in death by her parents; stepfather, Vernon Patrick Kinney; daughter, Cynthia S. Nellans; and granddaughter-in-law, Reghan L. Nellans.
The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, March 25 at King Memorial Home, Mentone. A livestream of the service will be made available on the Hartzler Funeral Services Facebook page at the time of the service.
The interment will take place following the service in the Palestine Cemetery, Palestine.
Visitation hours will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 24 at King Memorial Home, 101 N. Tucker St., Mentone.
Memorial contributions can be made in her memory to Christian Motorcycle Association P.O. Box 9, Hatfield, AK 71945.
Share a memory or send an online condolence at www.hartzlerfuneralservices.com.
