Dr. Craig A. Ryder died peacefully due complications from Parkinson’s disease on Thursday morning, July 5, 2018, the day after his 81st birthday.

The first child of Harry and Iris Ryder, he was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and graduated from Howe Military Academy in Indiana, Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Bowman Gray School of Medicine at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem. After marrying Barbara Wickins in 1959, he completed medical school in North Carolina followed by internship and residency at Henry Ford Memorial Hospital in Detroit, a fellowship in orthopedic surgery in Boston, and two years of active duty in the Public Health Service in New York. In July 1970, Craig joined an orthopedic practice in Suffolk, where he practiced 27 years prior to retirement in 1997. After his retirement, Craig and Barbara moved to Northern Virginia and lived there for nearly 10 years before moving to Decatur, Ga.
Craig was an active and devoted Episcopalian for most of his life, beginning at Church of the Epiphany in Euclid, Ohio; continuing at St. Paul’s in Suffolk, where he was a vestry member, chalice bearer and lector; St. John’s in Centreville, where he was clerk of the vestry; and Church of the Epiphany in Atlanta, Ga., where he was a member of the finance committee. He was a member of Rotary International. Besides family, church, and being a surgeon, some of Craig’s other passions included reading, watching racing of any kind, traveling and especially cycling. During his time in Suffolk, Craig was an avid bicyclist. In 1976 he joined the ranks of long-distance cyclists and for many years organized and rode across the country in 1,000-mile increments. Over the course of his cycling career, he rode in every U.S. state, as well as all of the Canadian provinces and most of the territories. Being so fit allowed him to enjoy a good hamburger or raspberry-filled doughnut on occasion.
Craig is survived by his wife of almost 59 years, Barbara Ryder; daughters, Linda Ryder-Wolf (Steve Wolf), of Buford, and Julie Ryder (Terri Lawrence), of Decatur; sisters, Karen Richmond (Jim) and Laura Sells (Ron); grandchildren, Rachel and Matthew Wolf; 13 nieces and nephews; and countless friends and patients. A memorial service for Craig will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 8, at the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, Atlanta, with interment immediately following in the Memorial Garden. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Church of the Epiphany, 2089 Ponce de Leon Ave., NE, Atlanta, GA 30307 or The Salvation Army Corps. & Community of Suffolk, Virginia, 400 Bank St., Suffolk, VA 23434.