William Waldo Rider

Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery under the direction of Resthaven Funeral Home.

Bill left this world on Friday, April 18, 2014, in Norman, OK.

Bill was born April 2, 1930, to Ellis H. and Carrie Nelle Rider in Wewoka, Oklahoma. He graduated from Wewoka High School in 1949. He then joined the U.S. Navy where he worked on the U.S.S. Boxer in the Pacific Ocean. After leaving the service, Bill worked in Wewoka selling oilfield chemicals for Tret-O-Lite, and later ran his own business, Ricco. He earned his pilot’s license and enjoyed flying solo, as well as with his daughter. An avid drummer, he played with country-western and jazz bands. Bill was also fond of boating, and teaching others to water ski. In the 1980s, he was elected City Manager of Wewoka. He was a life-long member of the First United Methodist Church in Wewoka and Shawnee, and taught Sunday school classes. Bill loved reading, and could often be found working a crossword puzzle. Family was very important to him, and he enjoyed spending time with them, as well as with his loyal dachshund Cowboy. Bill will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.

Surviving him are his wife, Wanda Rider of Shawnee; sister,VaDella Burris of Eureka Springs, AR; daughter, Annette Mantooth of Wewoka; stepdaughters Donna Blaine and her husband, Doug of Norman and Diane Murph of Raleigh, NC; stepson Don Speaker of Shawnee; 6 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; and 2 great-great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Howard Rider; sister, Mary-Ellen Thomas; and granddaughter Shayla Speaker.