Obituary of Arnold "Shorty" Riddle, Sr

Shorty Riddle, the man who not only contributed to the building of Frankfort, KY one brick/block at a time but also contributed to building a family that has proven to be his greatest gift. Arnold “Shorty” Riddle, age 88 of Frankfort, KY, died January 7, 2024.

He and his twin sister Olene were born in Letcher, KY in 1935, to Henry Pratt Riddle and Nancy Elizabeth Lewis Spartman. Henry Riddle worked in the coal mines until his death in 1942 and Nancy Spartman was a homemaker until her death in 1983.

His father Henry died at a young age due to a mining injury which created a hardship for the family. Shorty attended elementary school in Letcher, KY until his father’s death and he had to help with the farm. He loved raising pigs and chickens and helping his grandfather carry shine across the mountain. He loved sharing the story of how his mother would have all the kids sit around in a circle sewing pieces of scrap together for a quilt. He left home at 13 and made his way to Frankfort where he soon began his lifelong career of working with brick and block. He spent 73 years in the masonry business and considered it an art rather than a job. He loved every brick and block he laid.

He married the love of his life, Mary Jane Clark Riddle, on February 05, 1955 via elopement in Indiana. They met at the Grand Theater in Frankfort and enjoyed dates of skating at the YMCA then located on the corner of the Singing Bridge and eating hotdogs at Cliffside Diner. Together they created a family that included a daughter, Nancy Jane Riddle Stucker (Mike) and a son, Arnold “Bubba” Riddle II (Rhonda) of Lawrenceburg.

Shorty as all know, was a family man and loved his granddaughters; The Riddle girls; Alicia (Bowling Green), Amanda (Harrodsburg), April (Frankfort), Adrianne, Leya, and Caydie (Lawrenceburg), and Shauna Stucker. He attended sporting events, band competitions, Girl Scout adventures and any other activity he was invited to. His granddaughters were the pride of his life and he never missed an chance to show them how much he loved them when given the opportunity. The great grandchildren are who kept him young during his senior years; Terry and Owen Brummel, Abel and Violet Caudill and Aiden Lainhart.

Friends were important to Shorty and he had many across the United States; he never met a stranger. He would gladly share his lifetime wisdom with any who would listen.

He was a Christian and early in life he was a member of Memorial Baptist Church where he assisted in the leadership of a large Boy Scout troop. He thought of these boys often and loved telling the stories of their days together. Shorty helped to build the Family Baptist Church in Bald Knob and became a member to last through his death.

Shorty was preceded in death by his parents Henry Riddle and Nancy Spartman, his siblings Lonnie Cornett, Hazel Skidmore, Wilburn Riddle, Olie Hobbs, Okie Powell, Olene Franklin, Augusta Riddle, Rueben Riddle, Rena Vae Spartman and is survived by his son and best friend Arnold “Bubba” Riddle, daughter Nancy Stucker, several wonderful nieces and nephews and his porch buds Garrett Brummel and Calaeb Caudill.

Visitation will be Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at Clark Legacy Funeral Home on Versailles Road, Frankfort, KY from 5-8pm and Thursday, January 11, 2024 from 10-11am with funeral service immediately following. Burial is Sunset Memorial Gardens.  Casketbearers are; Buddy Rogers, Willie Lynn, Ransom Mattox, Allen Burris, Keith Merriweather, Calaeb Caudill and Danny Clark.  Honorary Casketbearers are; Terry Brummel, Owen Brummel, Abel Caudill, Martin Henson, Bobby Goullon and Mike Hopper.

Family requests in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Bluegrass Care Navigators at bgcarenav.org. or CenterWell.