Vicki L. Rye

September 3, 1956 - March 19, 2022

RYE, Vicki L., age 65, of Waynesville, passed away Saturday, March 19, 2022, at Kettering Hospital. Vicki was a 1974 graduate of Waynesville High School. She owned and operated Dagwoods in Waynesville for over ten years. For over 30 years, she worked at the Waynesville American Legion Post 615. One of the legion’s biggest supporters and a lifetime member, she held all of the Ladies Auxiliary officer positions, currently the unit’s historian. In addition, she assisted in the bar, the German Sundae and Auxiliary booths at the annual Ohio Sauerkraut Festival, meals following funerals, legion services at the Dayton VA, and community events. It became her tradition to dress up as the Easter Bunny for the kids during the legion’s annual Easter egg hunt at the school. Giving, helpful, caring, fun-loving, and free-spirited, Vicki loved cooking for people and hosting and entertaining parties. She greatly enjoyed flower gardening, boating, gambling, going to casinos with friends, rooting on the Pittsburgh Steelers, and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Over the years, it was a tradition for her to travel to Dale Hollow Lake in Tennessee for the yearly boating trip in June, which included multiple Waynesville business owners and families staying at Star Point Resort and joining together on the lake. She will also be remembered for how much she enjoyed ocean cruises and trips to Siesta Key in Florida for the beach, the pool, and the sunshine. She was preceded in death by her husband, Don Rye, in 2017; her parents, Joseph Ridinger and Elizabeth Sawyer; and one sister Sharon Walker. She is survived by her fiancé, Jody Cornett; son Jimmy (Heather) Wiseman; daughter Ashley (Kevin) Brennan; five grandchildren Austin, Jordan, and Hunter (Hannah) Wiseman, and Kyle and Jake Brennan; three great-grandchildren Harper, Ryker, and Parker; three brothers Wayne (Sandy) Ridinger, Darrell (Kelly) Ridinger, and Randy (Holly) Ridinger; and two sisters Connie (Steve) Swaney and Sherry (Berry) Ratliff. A celebration of life gathering will be held 3 - 6 PM Friday, March 25 at Stubbs-Conner Funeral Home in Waynesville. Also, at the funeral home and immediately following the gathering at 6 PM, the ladies Auxiliary will hold a final salute in her honor, and there will be a time for friends and family to share memories and stories. Following the celebration of life service, family and friends will be invited to the Waynesville American Legion Post 615 for dinner and additional fellowship. If desired, contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society. Condolences at www.stubbsconner.com.