Charles Rider

Funeral Services for Mr. Charles Rider will be conducted Sunday at 3PM in Williams Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Beverly McLaren, Rev. Harold McLaren, and Rev. Tim Tanner officiating. The family will be at the funeral home from 2:00 until the service hour to receive friends. Burial will be in Montrose, Colorado at Grand View Cemetery after a service at Crippin Funeral Home on Thursday, December 9, 2010. The family will receive friends at Crippin Funeral Home from 1:00 until 2:00. Mr. Rider was born on April 19, 1923 in San Acacio, Colorado. He was the ninth child born to John and Margaret Rider. He attended schools in Grand Junction, Colorado. He served in the Navy in WW2 on the USS Eagle 57. He is preceeded in death by his wife of 62 years, Fern Butterfield Rider. Mr. Rider was a member of New Hope Worship Center in Milledgeville, pastored by his niece, Rev. Beverly McLaren. Charles and Fern began married life on a farm in Fruita and later moved to Grand Junction. After many years in Grand Junction, they spent ten years in Montrose before moving to Delta where they made their home until Fern’s death. Mr. Rider was a trucker who hauled freight to Montgomery Wards in Grand Junction and there met Fern. He worked for Litton Mayflower and eventually he and Fern founded Western Transfer North American Van Lines, which they owned and operated for many years. Mr. Rider was a farmer at heart and always kept livestock of some kind. His neighbors received the bounty from his wonderful garden until he was in his 80’s. He loved fishing and picnics. He enjoyed westerns, WWII movies, checkers and card games. Mostly, Charles loved life; even as his health declined and life became more difficult, Charles embraced every opportunity to connect with family and friends. He will be missed and remembered by many. Mr. Rider is survived by his sister, Irene (Fred) Ligrani and 2 brothers, Bob and Jack Rider, all of Grand Junction. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Arlene McLaren, of Milledgeville, Ga. and brother-in-law Bill Butterfield (Phyllis) of Olathe. A number of nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews also survive.

Charles Rider

April 19, 1923 - December 1, 2010