Cleveland Thomas Riddle, 87 of Tracy’s Landing, MD, known to all as “Jimmy” and “Jim”, passed away on April 6, 2026, after a long battle with COPD and most recently a cancer diagnosis. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, Uncle, and friend. He was well known for his musical talents, HVAC expertise, and funny jokes. He will be deeply missed.

Jimmy was born May 5, 1938, in Washington, DC to James Cleveland Riddle and Lillian Marie (Howes) Riddle. He was the oldest of 4 children. He attended Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Academy in Washington, DC before his family moved to Deale, MD. He then attended the original Shady Side Elementary school, now known as the South County Deale Moose Lodge in Shady Side. He attended Southern Junior/Senior High School from 7th-12th grades, graduating in 1957. While attending Southern, he met the love of his life, Patricia Anne Harrison. They got married on December 21, 1959, and lived in Churchton, MD until moving to their current home in Tracy’s Landing in 1965 where they raised their 3 daughters.

Jimmy was a HVAC mechanic working for several HVAC companies starting his career at Griffith Consumers. He then worked for a short time with Johnson Controls before working at Combustioneer for over 20 years and advancing to Vice President. He then worked at South County Heating and Cooling, BTE- Building Technological Engineering, and ended his

HVAC career managing the commercial HVAC services at Barrington, Cropp, and Metcalfe retiring in 2007.

Jimmy was also known for his musical talents, which started at the age of 12 when he received his first guitar. Jimmy sang and played his guitar in talent shows. He was voted as “most talented” superlative his senior year of high school. He played music with Jimmy Dean and Roy Clark. He was lead guitarist and sang in several bands of his own for many years starting in the early 1960’s playing at the Stardust Motel in Waldorf, the Loft Room in the Waldorf restaurant, many firehouses, the Bingo Hall in Wayson’s Corner and at his sister-in-law’s prom. He played Motown to Country music in his bands “Star Lights”, “Soul Masters”, “Merging Traffic”, “4th Time Around”, “Rhythm Ramblers”, “Rambling Troubadours”, and most recently, “On The Road Again” that played at Charlotte Hall Veterans Home. He was a big hit at his 2 granddaughter’s weddings. Jimmy was still playing his guitar, singing and having band practice until 2 months before his passing. His 3 daughters have fond memories of sitting on their basement steps in the late 60’s and 70’s listening to his band practice while eating ice cream.

Not only was Jimmy a great musician, he was also an avid hunter of goose, duck, squirrel, quail, dove, and deer. He taught his daughters and grandsons how to hunt. He was a lifetime member of Three Rivers Sportsman Club in Harwood, MD where he served as treasurer and President for several years. He also participated in the Southern Maryland Winter League, winning several belt buckles. He was also a member of Duck’s Unlimited.

He was a long-time parishioner of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in West River.

Jimmy is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Patricia Anne (Harrison) Riddle of the home, his daughters Deborah Ann Riddle of LaBelle, FL, Denise Ann Perry (Ronnie Wood) of Owings, Dayna Ann Sarlo (Arnie) of Alva, FL, his brother, Michael “Lee” Riddle of Shady Side, sister, Dorothy Harp (Bill) of Englewood FL. His grandchildren Cory Gambrill of Tracy’s Landing, Eleanor “Ellie” Dotson of Texas, Heather Jarvis-Gray (Doug) of Edgewater, Robert “Allen” Perry (Jenna-Rae) of Delaware, Ryan Perry (fiancé Casey Ray) of Tracy’s Landing, Megan Perry (fiancé Mathew Hoffman) of Owings, Kaitlyn Sarlo Davila (Marvin) of Iowa, Elaine Sarlo Barraco (Vinnie) of FL, and Arnold “AJ” Sarlo of FL. Great-grandchildren Maya Davila, and Sadie and Rosalia Barraco. Sisters-in-law, Beverly Smith of Ohio, Josephine Guarino of Annapolis, brothers-in-law William “Bill” Harrison of Indiana, Mark Lynch of Owings, Robert “Bobby” Bayne of South Carolina and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Jimmy was preceded in death by his parents, James and Lillian Riddle, mother and father-in-law, William and Constas Harrison, sister, Kathryn Riddle Bayne, sister-in-law, Janice

Harrison Lynch, nephews, Dennis Riddle, Michael Riddle, and Phil Carnell, and niece Lorri Riddle Hallock.

Visitation will be at Rausch Funeral Home in Owings, MD on Monday, April 13, 2026, from 2-4pm and 6-8pm. Funeral Services will be held at 11am on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at Rausch Funeral Home. Internment following service at Southern Memorial Gardens, Dunkirk, MD.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jimmy’s name to the following charities:

American Cancer Society, Supportive Care at Hospice of the Chesapeake, and Voices in Praise at https://www.voicesinpraise.org.