Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Hey bro. Thought about you a bunch through the holidays and missed you a lot. It's basketball season and we've cut way back on the hours. I sure as heck miss seeing you out and about. Still doesn't seem real but I know you are watching out for all of us. It's 2011 and already one more hero has joined you up there this year. Semper Fi.....

335
Spotsy

January 2, 2011

Happy New Year. Miss you.

Anonymous

January 1, 2011

Merry Christmas. Wish you were here with us but I know in a way you kind of are. Thanks for everything you did for us. Miss you.

Anonymous

December 25, 2010

Hard to believe six months have gone by....I still remember the day like it was yesterday and I can still hear your voice over the radio. Miss you "D".

Anonymous

December 19, 2010

I can't believe it has been 5 months already. Went down to MD today and could not take a step anywhere on that old farm without smiling about a memory we shared there. Im sure we will share many more this fall. Miss you.

Anonymous

November 19, 2010

It's been 5 months and I think of you daily. I hope your family is doing as well as can be expected. I never knew you and never knew your family but I hope they find some peace to know that you're looking down on them and have now become their guardian angel. Rest in Peace.

Anonymous

November 19, 2010

Thought of you today and just wanted you to know that you have been a guiding light for alot of people around the office. We are keeping an eye on the family and Gordo finally made Detective. Nick and Maggie have become one heck of a K-9 team. I know how proud you are of your boys by some of the conversations we had. Watch over us now buddy !!!

Detective Troy J. Skebo
Spotsylvania

November 17, 2010

Dean,you are remembered and your family is prayed for daily.I just wish we could have talked one more time.

Don Vanderhoof
Friend

October 29, 2010

Our sweet little grandson Grant turned one year old today. I wish you could have been here to help us celebrate his birthday. What a beautiful sight it was to see our three precious grandchildren all together tonight. I missed having you by my side but I know that you were looking down on us from above. I don't know how we're going to get through the upcoming holidays without you. We miss and love you.

Anna Ridings
Wife of Dean

October 22, 2010

Dean, it has been almost four months now since you left to be with God. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of you and miss you. The kids and I went to visit your grave on Saturday. Your headstone was finally set a couple of days ago. It is beautiful. The kids and I went to an apple orchard on Saturday. Lily and Aiden had such a great time picking apples. We left left an apple tht we picked from the orchard on your grave. It was such a beautiful sunny day. The weather was a little windy, but other than that it was great. The only thing that could have made that day more perfect was if you were with us. I looked up in the sky a few times and was hoping that you were looking down on us. I thought about you so much while I was there. It reminded me of a time when you and I had gone away for the weekend and we saw an apple tree and you stopped the car and we got out to pick apples from that tree. What a fun time we had. These are the memories that are keeping me going through this difficult time. You don't know how many times a day I have to stop what I'm doing and have to concentrate and ask myself if you are really gone or did I have a bad dream that morning. It still doesn't seem real that you are never coming back. I know that you will be watching over us. You are missed and loved.

Anna Marie Ridings
Wife of Dean

October 17, 2010

Hey Dean, I thought of you yesterday. Just thought you should know.
P.S. Nick is smiling again, he even made a joke the other day.

Domonique
Spotsy SO

October 17, 2010

Dean,

I can't believe that three months have passed since you were taken from us. I think about you each and every passing day. I still wait for you to come home from work every night. The phone rings,and I think it's you calling me. I find myself wanting to ask you a question but only to remember that you are not here. This house is so lonely and quiet without you. Your hats and jackets are still hanging up on the hooks as if you were going to come back to us. It still seems so surreal that you are gone. I just wanted you to know that you are missed and loved.

Anna Marie Ridings
Wife of Dean

September 21, 2010

Dean,

I can't believe that three months have passed since you were taken from us. I think about you each and every passing day. I still wait for you to come home from work every night. The phone rings,and I think it's you calling me. I find myself wanting to ask you a question but only to remember that you are not here. This house is so lonely and quiet without you. Your hats and jackets are still hanging up on the hooks as if you were going to come back to us. It still seems so surreal that you are gone. I just wanted you to know that you are missed and loved.

Anonymous

September 20, 2010

We still miss you...

Anonymous

September 7, 2010

“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children...to leave the world a better place...to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

You, sir, were a great success.

We all still miss you and are doing our best to watch out for your family.

Anonymous
Spotsylvania County Sheriffs Office

August 28, 2010

Dean,
These past weeks have been so hard to bear. Friday nights not seeing you walk through the door after a night of duty. Saturday nights with you, Anna, John and me, laughing,joking,enjoying our date nights out together. It even seems strange to come to your house and not see "Cops" on the TV.
When I see pictures of you I can still hear your laugh and I smile when I know you would have added one of your one liner song adlibs to the conversation.
You touched so many lives in your short stay here. We take comfort in knowing even though your time with us is over, God must have needed you more. Don't worry about Anna, we are doing our best to stay close and to take care of her. We know you are with us from above.
Rest in Peace my dear friend.
You are missed so very much!

Sharon Carmell
Close Friend

August 5, 2010

Dean,

I thought of you today as I do often. A unit was out doing select enforcement the other night and all I wanted was for you to key up and say, "390 10-38". I just want you and your family to know how much we really do miss you. Each time I hear Nick mark 10-41, I wonder how they all are doing because I know how hard it is for me. You are forever in my heart.

Domonique, Emergency Communications

August 5, 2010

Went to National Night Out last night. I felt like you should have been there. I kept expecting to see you and thought about you a lot. We all still really miss you!!!

Sarah Ridings
Daughter-in-law/Gordon's wife

August 4, 2010

Hey Dad,

Still doesn't seem real. It was so wierd not hearing you on the radio the past few Friday nights. It will never be the same, and it will always be hard when certain things come up and you are not there. Well, I know you will be there, maybe not in person, but you'll be there. I know its alot "sweeter" up in Heaven, and I know we will see you again and be able to joke around and have good times......but hopefully not too soon. I think about you every time I am at the taskforce office before and after we go out to continue the fight that will never end. We all think about you. Keep watching from above............

G$

Gordon
SSO/RRGTF

July 28, 2010

To My Husband of 30 years and my best friend:

How I wish heaven had a phone, so I could hear your voice again. I thought of you today, as I do everyday. I think of you in silence, I often speak your name. All I have are memories & a picture in a frame.

I know you are with God and your Mom and Dad. You are our Guardian Angel now. We will see each other again one day.

Love You Always.

Anna Marie Ridings
Wife of Dean

July 28, 2010

Dean,
the other day we were checking premise history on a house and the last history was history of you attempting a warrant service. i was caught unaware and i had to take a moment to compose myself. i still can't believe you are gone.

you were the type of man that most people want their sons to be like when they become adults. honorable, loyal, compassionate, nice but with the ability to get down to business if necessary; you had such a way about you, you were a breath of fresh air every time you came into dispatch. it says a lot when every single ECC employee had the same thing to say about you; you took the time to visit with all of us, day shifts and night shifts. we all knew you and thought the world of you.
when i think of you there are 3 memories I hold onto: you outside of the s/o joking about the "Dean Ridings Boot Camp for Youth", you saying your unit number over the radio, and the one that impressed me the most - the day you introduced me to your wife "the most beautiful woman in the world."
You are greatly missed by us all.

Communications Operator A Henderson
Spotsylvania County Sheriffs Office

July 23, 2010

Dear Family, Friends, and Co-Workers of Deputy Sheriff Dean Ridings,

We are so sorry to here about your tragic loss of Deputy Sheriff Dean Ridings. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you in support during this very difficult time. We know that sometimes there is little comfort that comes from words. Keep focused as you can on the memories and joyous times for these things may bring you comfort. Rely heavily on family, friends, and other law enforcement for support. Honor your fallen loved one, for their sacrifice will not be forgotten. Deputy Sheriff Dean Ridings is a hero.

Respectfully,

Alissa Scott
Widow of Beryl Wayne Scott
E.O.W. 09-10-02

Lisa Schultz
Widow of Don Schultz
E.O.W. 05-12-04

Co-Founders of Survivor Help Network

Anonymous

July 22, 2010

Dean it's been one month today. I spent a short time with Nick this morning moving the decoy car and he stated that he couldn't believe it has been a month already. I know that you are watching from above and I promise that I will watch over him as he continues on this journey. Rest in peace my brother.

Woody

Sgt J.M.Woodard
Spotsylvania S.O.

July 19, 2010

I check this site everyday and have only been able to bring myself to post today. The thought of writing to you was too overwhelming and I cry even now. We miss you so much it hurts. There isn't a moment that goes by that I don't think of you. You are my first thought in the morning and I dream of you at night. I want you to know that you are the best father-in-law I could have ever asked for. You were an amazing father, grandfather, officer and man. The kids ask about you often and it breaks my heart a little more each time, when I have to tell them you are in heaven. I still can't believe you are gone. How do we all move on from here? It hurts my heart to think of all the things you won't be here to see. Gordon and I will make sure the kids never forget who you were or how much you loved them. Thank you for being such an awesome father to Nick and Gordon. You have definitely shown them how to be great fathers as well. We love you and miss you!!

Sarah Ridings
Dean's daughter-in-law / Wife of Gordon

July 12, 2010

Dean I still miss you too. Nick and Gordon my prayers are still with you. Anne Marie sleep tight at night, we have your back and if you can't just yet, remember dispatch is there 24/7. Just call and we will be there just to talk until you can.

Domonique Curry
Spotsylvania County SO

July 11, 2010