Retired Lt. Colonel George Edward Riddle, loving husband, and devoted father, passed away at the age of 81, on October 22, 2021, in Fort Walton Beach. George was born in Lynchburg, VA on March 12, 1940. He was preceded in death by his parents, Marshall Stuart Riddle and Girthie Riddle. George has two living brothers, Marshall and Wayne.

After graduating from E.C. Glass High School in Lynchburg, VA, he graduated from Virginia Tech earning a B.S. degree in Architectural Engineering. Later in life, he additionally earned an MBA from Auburn University. After graduating from college, he joined the US Air Force and attended flight school in Selma, AL. While there in Selma, he met the love of his life, Lynn Diane Burrows. He and Lynn together raised two sons and one daughter - Grieg, Scott, and Brenda. Their three children blessed them with nine grandchildren - Ashley, Lindsey, Seth, Katelyn, Luke, Collin, Ainsley, Everly, and Preston.  

During his military career, George served in Vietnam as a pilot and was awarded both the Silver Star and the Purple Heart. Later in his career, he also served as a flight instructor at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. After retiring from the Air Force after 22 years of service, he was a commercial pilot briefly for Orion Airlines and later, for Northwest (Delta) Airlines. After retiring from Northwest Airlines, George and Lynn took numerous cruises and traveled worldwide with friends. 

Favorite memories from his friends and family include his handyman skills, love for tools, and his desire to always take advantage of two-for-one sales and mail-in rebates. He had the unique ability to fix anything mechanical.  George will be greatly missed by his family and friends. 

Expressions of love and sympathy may be placed and viewed online at www.emeraldcoastfuneralhome.com