Uncrowned Community Builders

William Roland Riding was born in Hannibal, Missouri on May 8, 1931. He was the son of Albert William Riding and Mary Lewis Riding. Bill, as he was affectionately called, moved to Buffalo in 1935 with his parents. He attended the Buffalo Public Schools and went on to work for Durez Plastic. He served in the army during the Korean War. Later, he was employed as a urology technician at the Veteran's Administration Medical Center. He retired from the Center in 1989. He was active with the Community Action Organization's Wider Horizons Reading programs for a number of years. One of Bill's special loves was the Our Savior Lutheran Church Men's Club where his energy and ideas were essential to the club's mission. He was married to the former DeRutha Blue. He also had six children, Gregory, Vincent, Craig, Sheila, Denise and Vanessa. Riding died on March 10, 1996. He is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo, NY.