Roll Call Tribute

Charles Z. Ridgway, Jr., Col. USAF (Ret) 

January 23, 1938 - January 14, 2025 

Colonel Charles Zimmer Ridgway, Jr. was born on January 23, 1938 in El Paso, Texas, to the late Charles Zimmer Ridgway and Kenneth Carpenter Ridgway. He graduated from Texas A&M University, earning a bachelor's degree and his commission as a Distinguished ROTC Graduate. While on active duty, he earned a master's degree in Management and Supervision from Central Michigan University.

After completing pilot training in September 1961, he was assigned as a rescue HC-54 pilot in Tachikawa, Japan. After returning stateside in 1963, he served as an aircraft commander/instructor pilot/flight examiner in the C-124, C-141, and C-5 aircraft. In 1970, he was selected to be USAFE Chief Flight Examiner in the C-54 aircraft stationed with the U.S. Military Training Mission at Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. From there, Charlie moved to Scott AFB, IL serving as an Operations Inspector with the MAC Inspector General until July 1973.

Following his Headquarters, MAC assignment, he was assigned to the Pentagon, working his first two years in the Air Staff Directorate of Personnel Programs. His second two years were in the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, J-4 Logistics Directorate. After graduating from the Air War College in 1978, he served as Operations Officer and Squadron Commander of the 4th Military Airlift Squadron, McChord AFB, WA, until 1981. In September 1981, he reported as Deputy Commander for Operations, 89th Military Airlift Wing, Andrews AFB, MD, and in 1982, he assumed duties as Commander, 1776 Air Base Wing, also at Andrews. In March of 1985, until his retirement in July 1989, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Headquarters, Twenty-Second Air Force, Travis AFB, CA.

After retiring from the Air Force, with 29 years of service, Charlie continued his love of flying, managing flight training programs for Hughes Aircraft and Flight Safety.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Patricia McElyea.

He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Lynn Jones Ridgway; daughter, Stacy Ridgway Juge and husband Jared; son, Bryan Charles Ridgway and wife Michelle; grandsons Charles Augustus Ridgway and Lawson Joseph Juge.

Services will be held on February 5th, 2025 at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, 5810 Midway Rd, Dixon, CA.