This page has gotten so large, we have had to separate some subject matters. We
have included a separate page of "Who is
Marvelicious!"
John Dion Ridenour-Marvel
September 8, 1968 - January 20, 1989
John Dion Ridenour-Marvel was my only son and he was my whole life.
John was such a caring and loving person. Most children are embarrassed to show their
affection to their parents, but not John. It didn't matter to John who was around, he
always let us know his affections. His last words to me were, "Mom, I love you."
I hear those words every day of my life.
John was killed as a result of an accidental shooting at the age of 20.
We miss you, John! There isn't a day that goes by that we don't think of you and want
you back. You were too young to die as you did. You hated violence, yet that is what took
your life. We'll see you again in heaven.
Mom and Dad,
Sonya and David Marvel
My thanks go to Sharon L. Mnich for this beautiful memorial! Sharon is a very
sincere person and I am very grateful to her!
John's
Virtual Memorial
Reflections
~ Sign John's Guestbook
Virtual Memorials
My Mom Is A
Survivor!
This is an exclusive membership club for moms who have lost a child. We are the
survivors who will teach people how to react to us when we lose a child.
This wonderful graphic was designed by: Mary aka *wags* shewolf.
Thanks Mary!
This page is dedicated to our son, John Dion Ridenour-Marvel, who was killed on
January 20, 1989 as a result of an accidental shooting. The girl who shot our son was
sentenced to 17 years in prison for manslaughter with a gun. She spent less than three
years in prison - thanks to early release programs and gain time.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department tried to charge her with Second Degree
Murder, however, there would have not been enough evidence to convict her on that charge.
So they had to settle for "Manslaughter With A Gun".
Our story begins when our son was visiting his biological father at his home. John
found out that the house was being used for a drug house. He was coming back home the next
day. He wanted to stay long enough to talk to his father. The morning he was to come home,
the girl who shot him claimed she was "pretending" to shoot John. She picked up
the gun and pulled the trigger. The bullet went right into his heart. He died en route to
the hospital. They tried to save him. They knew he was a strong young man, but they
couldn't. John knew too much. This girl was the girlfriend of the drug dealer who was
providing drugs for that house.
Well, that's our story...it's not a pretty one...but it has to be told. I, personally
have been afraid of guns since this incident. My only suggestion if you must have a gun,
is to get educated on gun safety...practice at a target range...Don't be a victim!
John's
Full Story
 
To All Parents
A Poem Written By: Edgar A. Guest
"I'll lend you for a little time a child of Mine," He said,
"For you to love the while he lives and mourn for when he's dead,
It may be six or seven years, or twenty-two or three,
But will you, till I call him back, take care of him for Me?
He'll bring his charms to gladden you, and shall his stay be brief
You'll have his lovely memories as solace for your grief.
~~~~~~~~~~
"I cannot promise he will stay, since all from earth return,
But there are lessons taught down there I want this child to learn.
I've looked the wide world over in my search for teachers true
And from the throngs that crowd life's lanes I have selected you.
Now will you give him all your love, nor think the labor vain,
Nor hate me when I come to call to take him back again?"
~~~~~~~~~~
I fancied that I heard them say, "Dear Lord, Thy will be done."
For all the joy Thy child shall bring, the risk of grief we'll run.
We'll shelter him with tenderness, we'll love him while we may
And for the happiness we've known forever grateful stay;
But shall the angels call for him much sooner than we've planned,
We'll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand."
~~~~~~~~~~
(from "All In a Lifetime"--Copyright, 1938)
This page is also dedicated to the children we have lost.
Jeff Linder lost his son, Warren Linder, in an automobile accident on June 28, 1987.
After Warren died, Jeff set up a Driving Safety Poster contest for the high school that
Warren attended. The contest is still going on today! Decisions was written by
Warren Linder about a month before he was killed! This page by his father, Jeff Linder, is
a dedication to Warren Linder 08/02/72 - 06/28/87.
Charlotte Lee Malloy
September 14, 1973 - April 2, 1996
Bill and Sandy Malloy's daughter, Charlotte, was murdered in April 2, 1996. Her killer
was convicted and is awaiting sentencing. See Bill and Sandy tribute to their lovely
daughter, Charlotte. It will
take you through every aspect of the killing of this beautiful girl, the trial of her
murderer and what it's like to lose a child.
Kristina Elizabeth Bridges
August 29, 1978 - June 27, 1997
Sherry Clitheroe's niece, Kristina, was killed in an car accident just 12 days after
she graduated from high school.
For anyone else who has lost a child, I have included a few web sites
for you to look at in hopes that it might help you in your grief.
A
Friend Lost A Loved One
Bereavement
Compassionate Friends/Flint
Michigan Chapter
Compassionate Friends/Malta Chapter
Compassionate Friends/Troy MI
Chapter
Crisis, Grief and Healing
The Grief Process
Grief Resources
Invincible Summer
In Memory ~ Christine Janelle Wolfe
Children Aren't Supposed to Die...
Jimm Gemms and We are Homicide Victims
Justice For All
Living With Loss
Love Never Dies - A Tribute to Geordi
Our Memorial Page
Remembering The Children (Murdered)
Some I Love Was Murdered
Victim's Page
Virtual Memorials
"The Undefended Victim"
(By an Unknown Author)
For me, no gavel, hammers
The Scales were never weighted.
My Crime was that of a victim,
My life, was the price I paid.
And when my life was taken,
Why weren't my rights read?
And the Statement, "overruled"
When they pronounced me dead?
I'll never hear my rights
Nor take the witness stand,
No attorney to defend me,
My fate was in a killer's hand.
Now the courtroom's crowded
As the defendant pleads the case.
With just the glimmer of a tear,
Cold eyes on a straight face.
But oh, that I could take the stand
If they could witness my last breath,
Could they live with the terror
That I went through in death.
If they could hear my pleading cries
And see the hatred in that face,
At last, we'd know, the scales had
"Been balanced" in this case.
If I could, I'd tell the jury
Exactly how it was,
The fear and pain that I went through
Struck down without a cause.
Did the jury carefully weigh it all
As they listened to the plea?
There were no emotions, showing now,
Just the hope of going free.
The final verdict now is in
As the defendant stands in tears
If only I had done as well.....
Given ten to twenty years.
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the
Lord.
Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of
footprints in the sand; one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord.
When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in
the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of
footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of his
life.
This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it. "Lord, You said that
once I decided to follow You, You would walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that
during the troublesome times of my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't
understand why when I needed You most You would leave me."
The Lord replied, "My son, My precious child, I love you and I would never leave
you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it
was then that I carried you."
Author Unknown.
Why God Takes Children
(By an Unknown Author)
When God calls little children
To dwell with Him above,
We mortals sometimes question
The wisdom of His love.
For no heartache compares with,
The death of one small child,
Who does so much to make our world,
Seem so wonderful and mild.
Perhaps God tires of calling
The aged to His fold,
So He picks a rosebud
Before it can grow old.
God knows how much we need them,
And so He takes but few,
To make the land of heaven
More beautiful to view.
Believing this is difficult
Still somehow we must try,
The saddest word mankind knows will always be Good-by.
So when a little child departs,
We who are left behind
Must realize God loves children,
Angels are hard to find.
Award received April 1, 1998
Thank you, Elizabeth!
This
Java Applet Banner will run continuously,
displaying the 13 Missing Children Alert Cases.
Clicking on the photograph will bring up the
Alert Page with more information, and the ability
to print posters. Clicking on the Yellow Marquee
Message will connect to the NCMEC home page.
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Changes last made on: Wed Jul 29 1998
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All images and content on this web site are copyrighted by Marvel
Creations and may not be reproduced without express permission. This web site was created
& designed by Sonya MarvelŠ 1996, 1997, 1998 Marvel Creations, which began May 28,
1996.
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