Lester Paul Riddle Jr

Lester Paul Riddle, Jr., aka Bud by his Illinois family, Les by his Maryland family and friends, as well as Dad, Daddy-Daz and Granddad passed away from the debilitating effects of Parkinson’s Disease on Friday, November 28th, 2025 surrounded by his loving family. He fought a courageous battle against the disease for eight years, but finally succumbed after losing to the disease in the end, suffering from a long and lingering seven-month semi-coma. He was born on June 5th, 1938 in Carbondale, Illinois to Lester Paul Riddle and Sara Logue Riddle, the oldest of their three children who included the late James (Jim) Logue Riddle and Lisbeth (Beth) Ann Riddle Wiegand. He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Celeste M. Corame Riddle, his devoted sons, L. Paul Riddle III (Cathy) and John Charles Riddle (Melissa) and five devoted grandchildren, Michael Paul, Andrew Charles, Ethan John, Jonah Luke and Hannah Rose Riddle. He is also survived by his sister, Beth, his sister-in-law, Cheryl Corame Gallery, his brother-in-law, Martin Clark Gallery and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Les was a quiet but precocious child who loved learning. In grade school, he asked for physics workbooks for Christmas! He was an excellent student, even to the point of teaching some physics classes in high school. He was focused in college as well, and completed his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois in 1960. He received his Master of Science from Johns Hopkins University in 1965. He then completed his doctorate studies at the University of Maryland College Park. He was recruited before graduation by Westinghouse Electric Corporation in Pittsburgh, PA. He stayed in Pittsburgh for about a year and then transferred to Westinghouse in Linthicum to pursue more interesting work. Finding a wife was certainly more interesting work, and in 1962 he met Celeste Corame at church at a Young Adults group. He set his sights on her and pursued her single-mindedly, using his charm and good looks! It was a whirlwind courtship and they married on June 15, 1963. They resided in Glen Burnie for eight years, finally moving to a big, old house with a beautiful yard in the little, historic town of Linthicum, MD. It was there they raised two sons, Paul, born in 1970 and John, born in 1974. Those were very happy times. Les was a brilliant physicist/mathematician who excelled at his job. He worked for Westinghouse Electric Company, Computer Sciences Corporation, Welkin Associates and lastly, for Alion Science & Technology Corporation, using his expertise by working with orbiting communications satellites. He won achievement awards and commendations with every company. For the last 30 years of his working life, he traveled the world, attending international conferences and meetings, visiting Germany, India, Japan, France, Switzerland, Russia, Great Britain, Australia and Hawaii. He finally retired from Alion in 2017 at the age of 79. He loved his work and retired only due to Parkinson’s Disease. Early this year he lamented, “I would love to do one more difficult math problem!” A true introvert, Les loved his solitary miles-long walks in Linthicum in every kind of weather! He worked in his beloved yard every day that he could. He enjoyed Sudoku and other challenging puzzles. He loved investing, reading, eating salmon, watching movies (particularly “Die Hard”) listening to classical music and opera and having his grandchildren visit. He had a dry sense of humor, loved animals and he was kind and polite. He was a true gentleman. Les was cremated and his Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2026 at the GFWC Woman’s Club of Linthicum Heights, Inc. clubhouse, 110 N. Hammonds Ferry Road, Linthicum, MD. There will be a gathering of family and friends from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 noon, the service at 12:00 noon with a luncheon following. Parking is available at the nearby St. Lutheran Church on West Maple Road. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, P. O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741. Let’s do what we can to find a cure for this horrible disease.

Lester Paul Riddle Jr

June 5, 1938 - November 28, 2025