RIDPATH, Charles R.

Third Pulled From River

Man Drowns, Second
Missing at Edinburgh

EDINBURGH — Charles Ridpath, 38, 617 S. Pleasant, drowned Sunday below the Blue River dam and another man he was canoeing with, Robert Winkler, 32, 201 N. Kyle, was pre­sumed drowned after they and another man were thrown from their canoe, according to state conservation of­ficers and Edinburgh Police Chief Kenneth Gwin.

The third man, Toby Milroy, Edin­burgh route 3, was rescued after he was able to remove his life jacket and hold onto brush until police were able to reach him. The three were tossed out of the canoe when it went over the falls. The distance from the top to the bottom of the falls was about two feet, according to Conser­vation Officer Tony Wilson, one of Milroy’s rescuers.

Gwin said Edinburgh Police officer Pat Pankey saw the canoeists approach the dam. Pankey was going to try to signal the men not to go over the dam because the water was rough and deep. Gwin said three women on the shore also attempted to alert the men to the danger.

Gwin said the canoe “nosed under” when it went over the dam. A conser­vation department spokesman said the men were thrown from the canoe and that Milroy held onto some brush until Wilson and Edinburgh Police officer Gordon Baker were able to reach him in a conservation depart­ment airboat.

Gwin said officers used a hook and rope to retrieve Ridpath’s body about an hour after the accident.

He said divers were unable to find Winkler. The river was too deep and swift this morning for divers to resume their search, Gwin said.

Police may send a boat downstream to see if they can find the canoe and possibly the missing man.

Officers from the Edinburgh Police Department, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s department and Department of Natural Resources participated in the search.

Funeral service for Ridpath will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday at Eskew Funeral Home here where persons may call after 4 p.m. Wed­nesday. Burial will be at Rest Haven Cemetery here.

Ridpath was born Sept. 22, 1942, the son of the late Kenneth Ridpath and Melvina Evans Ridpath of Shelby­ville. He worked as a truck driver.

Other survivors include his wife, Carol Sandefur Ridpath; four daugh­ters, Tammy, Paula, Denise and Judy Ridpath, all of Edinburgh; a sister, Mary Pierce of Williamsburg, Ohio; a brother, Carroll Ridpath of Edinburgh; three half brothers, Steve, Michael and Bobby Ridpath, all of Ohio; and three half sisters, Sharon Ridpath of Ohio, and Hazel and Debbie, whose last names were unavailable, both of Shel­byville.

Submitted by Mark Wirey