Myrtle Poundstone Ridolphi

She is survived by her two daughters, Jane Ridolphi Goodson, Montgomery, AL, and May Ridolphi Eason (Jerry), Wetumpka, AL; four grandchildren, Robert Louis Herron, Daphne, AL, Miller Goodson Wallace (Grant), Pike Road, AL, James Willard Herron, Daphne, AL, Jerry Lionel Goodson III (Caroline), Hoover, AL; two great-grandchildren, Grant Martin Wallace, Jr. and Jane Margaret Wallace; sisters-in-law, Margaret Farley Poundstone, Montgomery, AL, Dorothy Ridolphi, Birmingham, AL; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Myrtle had multiple caretakers through the years in various capacities that she also considered her close friends. We are thankful for Bessie Williams, Toni Frazer, and Michele Hill for their many years of friendship and dedication to her, and in later years to Linda King and Rahim Shakir for their love and care. This past year, she was blessed to have the love, support and care of Cathy Hughes and her primary caretaker, Lillie Patton, who had a special bond with her. We also give special thanks and gratitude to Baptist Home Health and Southern Care New Beacon Hospice for their excellent care over this challenging year.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene Pierre Ridolphi; her parents, Emmett Robert Poundstone and Nancy Johnson Poundstone; and her four older brothers, Dave Johnson Poundstone, Robert Emmett Poundstone, Phillip Paterson Poundstone, and Wylie Dixon Poundstone.

Myrtle was born in Montgomery, Alabama and was a 1946 graduate of Sidney Lanier High School. Even at this early age, she related to people of all types and found herself on lists such as Lanier’s Who’s Who, along with academic honors. While always a beauty and loved by her peers, she was never into the physical aspects of life. She was quietly intelligent and unassuming. She was proud of her degree from Huntingdon College, but no one would have known she was the editor of the 1950 yearbook that received national recognition. She was naturally humble and never sought to be the center of attention. She just attracted people with her genuine love for them, her ability to relate to them, and her witty personality and stories.

She worked for many years as a statistician with the State of Alabama before retiring in 1992, and many of her colleagues also became her lifetime friends. She cared deeply for family and was the spearhead of family reunions through the years. She wanted her family to know and love each other as they grew, even if that just meant a periodic family gathering at the “clubhouse.” She was incredibly generous and loved bringing joy to others.

Myrtle was a lifetime member of First Baptist Church in Montgomery where she was very involved in the Children’s Ministry for many years and in her Sunday School class. She loved the Lord, her Church, and this precious class which was also so good to her throughout her illness. She also loved and cherished the friendships she had with the ladies in her “Sewing Club” and the relationships she enjoyed at Jan’s Beauty Salon.

Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Caring Center or to the Montgomery or Elmore County Humane Society.

Myrtle will be laid to rest in Greenwood Cemetery in Montgomery, Alabama in a private burial. A Celebration of Myrtle’s life will be held at a later date.