Allan and Estle

My Pop-Pop, Allan Riddle, showed me how to love out loud and to love God, both through example and through my Mom. He was a fantastic storyteller, would be a friend to anyone who wanted one, and enjoyed every moment of his life. He endured challenges, but in the years I knew him would never allow anything to take his focus off his family and his love for God. He said the blessing at our wedding, and we have certainly been blessed.

My Grandpa, Estle Gollihur, showed me how to be a provider, by example and through my Dad. He worked with his hands his whole life and taught himself many incredible skills by watching and asking questions. With Grandpa, we knew there was only “I can” or “I won’t”, but he’d never say, “I can’t”. He designed and helped me create a hope chest for Aimee, which we built “In faith, hope, and love” — the very skills he exemplified in his dedication to Grandma (60+ years, side by side).

How to love is a skill learned by those who are loved. As a husband and father, all that I have learned about how to love and how to live can be traced back to these two incredible men.

It is with a heavy heart that we will say our final goodbye at their memorial services this weekend. I hope they realize the legacy they’ve left is immeasurable.

Allan Riddle
February 7, 1924 – January 29, 2009

Estle Gollihur
February 18, 1923 – February 3, 2009