Joseph R. Riden, Jr.

Joseph R. Riden, Jr. 89, of Prairie Village, passed away Sunday, December 18, 2011, at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

Joseph was born in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and earned an Eagle Scout Badge with palms and graduated from Mercersburg Academy. He received a Ph.D. degree in biochemistry from the Pennsylvania State University where he was a member of Phi Lambda Upsilon, chemistry honorary; Gamma Sigma Delta, agricultural honorary; Alpha Chi Sigma, Chemistry fraternity and Pi Kappa Phi social fraternity. He served as a Lt. JG in the U.S. Navy during World War II in the Pacific Theater with the Amphibious Corps.

After returning from the Navy, Joseph married Sarah Jane Schmidt on November 30, 1946. She preceded him in death after 62 years of marriage on August 16, 2008. His professional career started with a four year A.E.C. Research Associateship at Johns Hopkins University. This was followed by two years at Chemagro Corporation and 25 years with Gulf Oil Corporation as Research Specialist, then Manager, Chemical Research and retiring as Manager, Biochemicals. He was awarded 6 U.S. patents, some 60 attendant foreign patents and has 16 publications.

Joseph is survived by his children, Ellen Perry, Susan McFarlane, Martha Gunn, Daniel Riden, Rebecca Freshnock, and 13 grandchildren.

Interment will be in Antioch Pioneer Cemetery with a private family gathering.