Kenneth Wayne Riedinger
Kenneth Wayne Riedinger, 74, of Silsbee, died Tuesday, February 13, 2024. He was born on June 30, 1949, in Silsbee, to Ruth Jones Riedinger and Charles Kenneth Riedinger.
Following is Wayne and Mary’s life story, by Mary Riedinger.
Well, we met in 1970, maybe 1969. We loved each other from the start. We went to get a coke at the Top Burger number one. It’s where Munchies Ole is now in Rusty’s Volkswagen. We sat and talked for hours.
It seemed like my life was never the same. When they would say, “What do you want to do after you graduate?”, I would say, “I want to marry Wayne, have children, and live happily ever after”, and thank God that’s just exactly what we did. We have had the most wonderful life.
My mama sold us the home that was her and daddy’s dream home. They only had seven years and she raised us there. Wayne was so glad to buy it and have such a nice home. She sold it to us so cheap and so complete and really she almost gave it to us.
I was 19 and Wayne was 23. Mama died the next year, so that day I had no mother, no father, no grandmother, and no grandfather, but I had a beautiful two-week baby girl and a husband that loved me with all his heart.
We were very happy and loved. We moved to West Texas in the oilfield to make a better living as we moved around on our adventures, we always had fun. We worked for a man named John Brittain and some of his brothers and cousins worked there too. It was really a wonderful adventure. We stayed a year and I wanted to go home, so we did. We had rented out our home while we were gone. We moved back home but still could not make a living. We had a beautiful baby boy that year so we moved back, and I knew as long as we were together, we would be fine. We lived in Sonora again, this time for three years, then we moved to Dilley, Texas. We lived there three years. We were living our best life, loving each other, had many good times, traveled with tractor pull tractors, that he and his cousin, Rodney had built for Mr. Brittain. We got to go with him every weekend, me and the babies, for him to be mechanic on the tractor pull tractors motels paid all the way just fun for me and the babies.
The next year and the babies. The next year in Dilley, Texas. Born in San Antonio. God gave us another baby. It was a boy. God was always holding us up. Three years in Dilley, then we moved to Giddings, and we had three years in Giddings, too.
We always had our home in Silsbee renting it out. One weekend we came home, and Papaw Winger made it possible to put a brand new roof on our home. He always loved Wayne.
One vacation week then back off to Giddings we went. We stayed the three years in Giddings while there we bought us land, an acre and a half and put our little trailer on it and made us a home in Giddings, in the country. We got ready to move home and sold our little place in Giddings and came home. Clint was 2 and a half years old, it was 1981, Sabrina was 10 and Kenneth was 7, we got to go home. Selling our place in Giddings we got to go with enough money to pay off our house, so we were home with no risk of ever losing our house. Home was good.
Wayne went to work being a mechanic at car dealerships first Ford and then Mercury dealership not ever making a lot, but our home was ours.
We decided to try to open a shop of our own. There wasn’t much risk. We had an old 53 Ford we call Gertrude, we sold Gertrude for $500 and an air compressor and just pushed his tools across the street from the dealership into a rented shop. We got the doors open. It was called K and M Automotive Specialist, and we had $15 left in the world, the whole world, lol. When we opened the doors that first day was a Saturday and we, me, Wayne and all three kids, had worked all day fixing it all up. After dark all of us talking, still working, and excited. Two very nice cowboys pulled in. They had their headlights knocked out at the rodeo and we sold and installed the headlights out of Wayne’s truck for $25. They were so happy, and we were too. They were our first customers and now we had whopping $40 and were off to a great start.
Today there sits a big shop building all paid for and it was a very good, happy seven-year run. We had no retirement and Wayne was 43, so we closed the doors on the automotive repair, locked the door, and went home.
He went to work for the county, with a shovel, in a ditch on the crew. He retired twenty-three years later as Commissioner of Hardin County, Precinct 1.
He’s a great man, I’m so thankful he fell in love with me, because he loved with everything he had in him, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren were his whole life. It was so great being his whole life, some people never get to be loved like that. I’m so thankful we all have known that kind of love, the kind that will give each of us strength to carry us through. Thank you God and thank you daddy.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Riedinger; children, Sabrina Brown and her husband, Kenneth; Kenneth Wayne Riedinger, II and his wife, Megan; and Clint Riedinger and his wife, Melissa, all of Silsbee; grandchildren, Taylor Fielder and her husband, Bobby, of Buna; Jordan Lewis and his wife, Lara; Katie Kellum; Mikayla Riedinger; Madison Riedinger; Braden Riedinger; Cali Riedinger; and Sadie Riedinger, all of Silsbee; Jordan Brown and his wife, Allison, of Webster; and Justin Brown, of Beaumont; great-grandchildren, Emily Brown, Abraham Espina, Lucas Castillo, Nikolas Lewis, Blake Brown, Sunny Jo Fielder, and on the way, Kolton Wayne Riedinger; siblings, Brenda Joyce Leviness and her husband, Roger, and Larry Winger and his wife, Shirley; David Riedinger and his wife, Sheila; and Bill Riedinger and his wife, Gayla, all of Silsbee; sister-in-law, Yvonne Winger of Silsbee; and many cousins.
He is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Lester Doc “Buddy” Winger; stepfather, L.D. Winger; and grandparents, Cynthia and Frank Jones.
A gathering of Wayne’s family and friends will begin at 3:00 p.m., with his funeral service at 4:00 p.m., Saturday, February 17, 2024, at Broussard’s, 490 Cemetery Road, Silsbee. His interment will follow at Knupple Cemetery, Silsbee.
Video
Gathering of Family and Friends
Broussard’s Mortuary Silsbee
- 490, Cemetery Road, Silsbee, Texas, 77656,
- February 17, 2024
- 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Funeral Service
Broussard’s Mortuary Silsbee
- 490, Cemetery Road, Silsbee, Texas, 77656,
- February 17, 2024
- 4:00 pm
Interment
Knupple Cemetery
- 461, Cemetery Road, Silsbee, Texas, 77656,
- February 17, 2024
I just found out about my Uncle Wayne passing today. He was my Uncle for 52 of my almost 54 years. I’ll never forget being little, no more than 2, riding in the front seat of the car with Aunt Mary & Uncle Wayne. He’d be driving & she would be giving me giant pixie stix & cokes big as I was, all the way from Silsbee back to Beaumont. I remember my Momma telling me when I got out of the car, as I’m waving bye to Aunt Mary & Uncle Wayne, “You’re so sticky! What did you eat!?” I said “Cold coke & a big old candy stick!” She wasn’t impressed. My Uncle let us do stuff other grown up’s wouldn’t, work on cars & bikes with real tools, use tool to beat stuff apart, give us money to go to the store to buy cokes & candy; as long as we stayed off the railroad tracks, took us to the dirt track to watch him & Aunt Mary race. He & Aunt Mary did everything together & everything with their 3 kids. I told myself growing up, when I get married, that’s how I want to be. Well I had some bumps I’m the road, but at 24 I met my forever. And we got married in 1995. My Aunt Mary was there, Uncle Wayne didn’t come, but he wasn’t huge social events that required spending the night & he’d already given me 2. LOL She told me she thought what my husband & I has was special. I think so too. We’ve stuck together, like Aunt Mary & Uncle Wayne, we’ve traveled for my husband’s jobs, we’ve kept our 4 kids close. Now we’re keeping 4 grands close. We’ll be married 30 years in 2025. Great example I had watching these 2 all my life.
My Uncle was kind, quiet, unless you knew him, funny, loved one woman for 52 years fiercely, loved his babies, grandbabies, & great grandbabies to no end. He loved cars, motorcycles, car racing, watching his kids & grandkids in sports. He was one of the hardest working men I’ve ever known, besides my Daddy & Stepdad. I hold him in that same regard.
I love you Aunt Mary, Sabrina, Kenneth, & Clint & your family’s too.
I love you Uncle Wayne. Fly High! RIP.
So very sorry for your loss. Praying for you and all your family.
Mary I’m sorry for your loss. You’re in my prayer and if you need a friend to talk, I’m here for you.
So sorry to hear this loss of your family prayers are lifted up during the days ahead
Mary, my prayers are with you and your family. Love you girl I just want you to know that I’m here for you if you need me anytime .
Mary and kids,
I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. I know what a close knit family y’all are and my heart breaks for all of you.
Margo and I are at the hospital in Houston with Mr Fling. We will not be able to attend Wayne’s services. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Love you Mary!!
Mary so sorry for your loss. Our prayers are with and your family. If you need anything let Sabrina know how I can help. Prayers again for your whole family.
I’m sorry for your loss and pray for your comfort
Mary Edna so sorry for your loss. He had to be good and happy with you because you are one of the most uplifting and loving person I know. He will be greatly missed I know but he left you a great family to enjoy.
Sorry to hear about Frank’s passing. Mary and family my heart goes out. Many fond memories of Frank. Working on my vehicles including hanging out at the shop. Getting to know the family and seeing kids grow up. His service to Hardin County and your hard work beside Frank. I will always remember the happy times and the love you both have in partnership. Your friend Rossi from Woodville (Doucette)
Dear Mary and family, I am sending sincere sympathy and prayers for you. I am so sorry for your loss of Kenneth. Your memories are a blessing.
Carol Jordan
Mary and family, I have many fond memories of Kenneth (Frank to me) and you while he was working with me when I was County Commissioner. He was loyal, talented, hard working and very proud of his family. You and family are in my and Lola’s thoughts and prayers.
Thank you so much. He loved working for you. He loved the way you took care of all of your men. And you dotted every i and crossed every t. Then you gave him the courage to believe in himself to be commissioner. I Thank you for that. He was a great commissioner and that was a highlight in his life.the huge spray youand Lola sent were so beautiful they sat right by him.. They showed yalls great love thank you so much.
Thanks Mary. Frank was a great foreman and friend to me and to everyone in the crew. I am sure he was also a great commissioner. Lots of fond memories. Lola and I have you and your family in our thoughts and prayers.
Mary Edna, I’m so sorry. My prayers are with you and all your family.
Mary,I am so sorry to hear about Kenneth. We were friends for a long time. Kenneth,Elmer Littlepage and I all went to school together.
Kenneth was the best mechanic I ever had when I had that bread truck. So sorry Mary.
Mary and family, you are all in my prayers. Frank was a wonderful person. I loved reading your story. You both were so blessed. Love and prayers
Mary and family, Dick and I are so very sorry! You guys were the sweetest couple. I could see how much you loved him by the way you took care of him. That’s what real love is!
What a beautiful and meaningful life you two shared together. You are very blessed to have found each other and had a fulfilled and loving marriage for 50-plus decades. So many wonderful memories.
You and your family have my deepest sympathy and are in my thoughts and prayers.
Mary, I’m so sorry to see this. You are in my thoughts and prayers. If you ever need someone to listen, I’m available, just message me on FB.
My prayers are with you and your family!!!
Sending hugs and love to each of you!!!