Thomas Eugene Ridenhour

The Rev. Dr. Thomas E. Ridenhour, Sr., 88, died April 8,, 2026 at Taylor Glen Retirement Community in Concord of dementia related complications.

Tom was born in Concord on November 11, 1937, the son of Clarence A and Elizabeth "Betty" (Webb) Ridenhour.

A proud member of the Concord High School class of 1956, Tom furthered his education at Davidson College (A. B. History, class of 1960), The Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary (B. D., class of 1965) and Duke University (PhD, class of 1972).

A son of St. James Lutheran Church in Concord, he was ordained to Word and Sacrament ministry on July 27, 1969 by the Lutheran Church in America's North Carolina Synod. During his ministry he served as Pastor of Resurrection Lutheran Church in Greensboro NC from 1969 to 1974; Professor of Homiletics at The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Pa. from 1974-1991 and Professor of Homiletics at the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia SC from 1991-2007. His tenure at Southern included a term of service as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty. His teaching career was defined by his Sisyphus like efforts to help seminarians come to understand the importance of employing God as the subject of a few active verbs in their preaching, all the while jangling the keys and change in his pockets.

An avid reader, pipe smoker (until he quit late in life to the shock of all), Tom carried his father's love for N. C. State athletics throughout his life while also supporting Duke basketball. After returning to Concord in 2013, Tom enjoyed his basketball season tickets to watch his beloved Davidson Wildcats. While remaining loyal to his childhood favorite Boston Red Sox, late in life very little got in the way of his affinity for the Atlanta Braves.

Upon returning to Concord, he cherished a return to St. James Lutheran Church and his love for the congregation never wavered. He savored opportunities to supply preach and teach and participated in a local pastors' study group for many years. Memorials may be offered to St. James Lutheran Church, PO Box 684, Concord, NC 28026, www.sjnc.net. Please, no flowers.

Tom married his wife, Mary Anna (Glass) Ridenhour, on August 19, 1961. She preceded Tom in death on October 5, 2005.

Following Mary Anna's death, Tom married Ann F. Porter in 2007. She died in 2024.

Tom is survived by his sister Elizabeth (Betty Webb) Ridenhour Brown (Jeffrey), Watertown, MA; his children, Thomas E. Ridenhour, Jr. (Christie), Charlottesville, VA; Mary Elizabeth Ridenhour, Simpsonville, SC; William C. Ridenhour, Concord NC; his grandchildren Samuel Webb Ridenhour (Sarah), Mechanicsville, VA; Anne Augusta Ridenhour, Atlanta, GA; Eve Elizabeth Ridenhour, Washington D. C.; Grace Weber Ridenhour, Lewisburg, PA / Wheeling, WV; and his great-grandchildren Emma Joan and Lucy Anne Ridenhour, Mechanicsville, VA; and several nieces and nephews, including Matthew Brown (Lisa Coyle), Boulder CO and Elizabeth Brown (David Elliott), Lincoln, MA as well as grandnieces and grandnephews.

The funeral rite will be celebrated at St. James Lutheran Church, 104 Union Street South in Concord on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 1:00pm. A formal time of visitation will precede the service beginning at Noon in the Fellowship Hall. Following worship, the family will remain for a time of informal visitation.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. James Lutheran Church, PO Box 684, Concord, NC 28026 or to www.sjnc.net.