C. Wade 'Doc' Rarison

C. WADE "DOC" RARIDON

Iowa City

Former YSU voice instructor and choral director C. Wade "Doc" Raridon, 88, passed away peacefully in his sleep early Saturday, June 5, 2021. Wade was born Dec. 6, 1932, in Sioux City, Iowa, and was the eldest of five children. He lived in Carroll, Iowa, as a youth and was a member of the Boy Scouts. He often worked delivering laundry for the family business owned by his maternal grandparents. He graduated with his class in 1951 from Carroll High School and lettered in track, wrestling and football, where he was the center and nose guard for the championship team.

Wade then began his college education at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, majoring in electrical engineering, but soon transferred to the University of Iowa in Iowa City when his interest turned instead to music. He was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and received both his Bachelor (1956) and Master of Arts (1957) degrees from the university's school of music under the tutelage of Professor "Prof" Herold Stark. It was there Wade met and fell in love with fellow voice student Rosemary Jenkins, when they first performed together at a local Rotary dinner. They married in September 1954 and blissfully shared their great love for music and each other for over 66 years.

Wade's first teaching assignment was at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, followed by Morningside College in Sioux City. In 1963, he accepted a position at Youngstown State University (then known as Youngstown College) teaching voice, music theory and diction at the college's Dana School of Music. Also, at this time Wade became the director of the chancel choir at Christ Church United Presbyterian in Youngstown, a position he held for the next 25 years. He and Rosemary brought their young family to a new home on the west side of Youngstown, where the couple continued to reside until 2013. They moved to Ohio Living Park Vista and most recently have resided at Wickshire Poland.

Dedicating over 40 years to teaching young people, Wade was active in the Ohio Music Education Association, the Ohio Choral Directors Association, the National Association of Teachers of Singing and the American Choral Directors Association. In 1984, he was the recipient of Youngstown State's Distinguished Professor Award. He and his groups gained recognition through their performances at the OMEA Chamber Choir Festivals, several OMEA conferences and state and regional conferences for the ACDA. He previously served as both treasurer and president of the OCDA, receiving the organization's Distinguished Service Award in 2015. Wade also adjudicated countless solo and choir competitions in 12 states throughout his career.

Always interested in sports, Wade was a great fan of the Green Bay Packers, St. Louis Cardinals and the Cleveland Cavaliers. He served as an umpire for the Mill Creek Little League baseball organization for several years and umpired and coached Pony League baseball as well. He and Rosemary both loved cheering-on the Iowa Hawkeyes football and basketball teams. They eagerly attended the Rose Bowl game in 1991 to watch their beloved Hawkeyes play, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience despite the team's loss.

Wade is survived by his wife, Rosemary of Youngstown; daughter, Geri Socciarelli and son-in-law, Michael, of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; and son, Timothy Raridon, of Girard, Ohio; four grandchildren, Anthony Socciarelli (Laura Mangual) of Tampa, Fla., Christi Nicula (Michael) of Cortland, Ohio, Edward Socciarelli (Holly) of Sarver, Penn., and Andrew Raridon (Sarah) of Valparaiso, Ind.; four great-granddaughters, Vada Socciarelli, Ruth Raridon, Riley Nicula and Wren Raridon; one great-grandson, Arlo Raridon; sister, Judith Raridon, of Virginia Beach, Va.; brother, Donald "Skip" Raridon (Nancy), of Omaha, Neb.; sister-in-law, Pat Jenkins of Washington, Iowa; many nieces and nephews; special family friend, Denise Smith of Ravenna, Ohio; and countless dear friends and former colleagues.

He was preceded in death by his eldest son, Atty. Michael Raridon, in 2019; parents, Guy and Dallas Raridon; brother, Delbert "Dobie" Raridon; sister, Barbara Mueller; brother-in-law, Anton Mueller; parents-in-law, Charles and Ruth Jenkins; brothers-in-law, Kermit Jenkins and Quentin Jenkins; and sister-in-law, Dorothy Jenkins.

Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Thursday, June 10, at Lane Funeral Home Anstrom Chapel, Boardman, Ohio, with the funeral service beginning at 5 p.m. For those who cannot attend services, livestreaming of the service may be viewed on Wade's obituary and events wall at www.lanefuneralhomes.com. Graveside services will take place at a later date at the Oregon Township Cemetery in Ainsworth, Iowa. In lieu of flowers, material tributes may be made to the Herald Stark Opera Scholarship, 92 E. Burlington St., Iowa City, IA 52242.