Selene Candis Ricker

Selene Candis (Louderback) Ricker, 94 who lived 59 years in Medina, Ohio passed away April 24, 2026. She was preceded in death by her parents, William Floyd Louderback and Josephine Powell (Royston) Louderback, brother, John Edward Louderback, husband Hershel Clay Ricker, daughter Joan Elizabeth Ricker and her stepson Dallas Marshall Ricker and his son Tony Ricker.

She is survived by sons Clay William Ricker (Isabel) , Hershel Lee Ricker, and Steven Nathaniel Ricker (Debbie) , daughters Catherine Jo Ricker and Susan Elaine Ricker Clegg (Michael). Sister, Geraldine Louderback Bowman. Nieces, Janet Louderback Kramer, Rebecca Bowman Hodges and her daughter Chelsea Vidika who was a great help to Selene, and Elizabeth Bowman Hickcox. Nephews, Clyde "Butchie" Bowman and Carl Bowman. Her grandchildren, Rachel Ricker, Josie Ricker, Keri Hammer, Alex Ricker, Steven Lee Floyd Ricker, Craig Dzuranin, bonus grandchildren Taynia Ricker Bell, and Amanda Ricker and their mother Clara Bass Ricker. She also has an honorary grandson, Joshua Oppie who Selene and her daughters Catherine and Susan babysat for many happy years. She also loved her great-grandchildren and great nieces and nephews.

Selene was born in Berryville, Virginia, Clarke County October 1, 1931 and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. During the Great Depression, when her father was furloughed from the Norfolk and Western railroad in Cleveland, Ohio the family survived by temporarily returning to the Louderback family farm in Wheatland, West Virginia outside Charles Town. She spent many a happy day at her grandparent's, John Reuben and Candis Delilah (Bell) Louderback and her maternal grandparents, Edward Brown Royston and Bettie (Hoff or Huff) farms. Both sets of grandparents lived just down the railroad tracks from each other. Selene would often say she had the best childhood any kid could have. She felt deeply loved by both sets of grandparents.

Candis would take little 3-year-old Selene and sit her on her lap and daily read the Bible to her. She would point to each word as she read the Bible. As a result, Selene learned how to read by the age of four. This instilled in Selene a deep love of God, the scriptures and family which she passed on to her children.

Before the age of 20, Selene had learned to develop her own photographs, had attended Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio and had become a librarian at the Cleveland Public library.

At age 20 she married and eventually became the mother of 6 children. The three oldest were teenagers when the last child, Steven Nathaniel was born. We loved him so much we would fight over who would take care of him. When Steven was 9 months old, he caught regular measles. He ran a very high temperature and was not expected to live through the night. Dr. Mansell felt his best chance for survival was to be with his loving family, as hospitals at that time would not allow overnight visitors. All through the night we took turns holding him and, thankfully, the next morning the fever broke and we were all extremely grateful he survived.

We are thankful to our beloved mother for teaching us what true love is, for giving us the gift of Jehovah our God, and for proving to us through the scriptures that we will see her again when she is resurrected and we will enjoy everlasting life with her on this beautiful planet Earth. Revelation 21:4, Psalm 37:9-11, 29, Acts 24:15

A Memorial Service for Selene will be held on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at 2:00 P.M. at the Brunswick Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses; 3906 Sleepy Hollow Rd.; Brunswick, OH 44212.

Services in care of the Billow Funeral Homes and Crematory, Fairlawn Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd. Fairlawn, OH 44333.