SEGUIN, TX—OCTOBER 21, 2016—A memorial service celebrating life of longtime horseman Alfred Riedel, 78, will be held on Saturday, October 29, at 10:30 a.m. at Cross Church in Seguin, Texas. He passed away September 29th at his home in Seguin.

Reverend Jim Price will officiated and a reception will follow in the church's fellowship hall.

Alfred was born on July 17, 1938 in New Braunfels, Texas, to Alfred and Evelyn (Dietert) Riedel. As a young boy Alfred, nicknamed Sonny, spent the summers helping his Grandfather and Uncle with farming and ranching in the New Braunfels area. He graduated from New Braunfels High School in 1956. After graduation, he drove a delivery truck for Ol Bossy Creamery in New Braunfels, TX.

He began his life long career in the Texas telephone industry, holding positions from a pole climbing lineman to manager. In 1969 he started his own utility construction business, Alfred Riedel Construction. Alfred built his company on the land that he helped farm with his grandfather many years before.

Alfred’s second passion started out as a hobby, but quickly became a second business - RC Running Horses. Alfred was a lifelong member of Texas Quarter Horse Association (TQHA) where he served on the Board of Directors, TQHA Race Committee, as well as the TQHA Sale Committee.

Alfred loved to country western dance, which led him to meet the love of his life Melba Jo who shared his passion for dancing and horses. Alfred and Melba spent 22 years together continuing to share their love for horses.

In the name of RC Running Horses, the couple bred 149 race starters, 90 winners with 248 wins, 10 stakes winner and four stakes-placed earners of more than $1.9 million. Among their top performers are stakes winners RC Me Leaving Your SI 1010 ($135,152), RC Had To Be My Day SI 99 ($97,355), Que Kid La Jolla SI 97 ($75,123), Make It A Runaway SI 107 ($76,117), Swingin Otoole SI 96 ($53,914), RC Hadtobemovin SI 99 ($30,194), etc.

Alfred was a Christian man, devoted to his family, his church family and many great friends he made along the way.

Alfred’s great hobby was deer hunting! He spent every deer season at “Hunting Camp” with “the guys”. While you would never find Alfred on his “Flip Phone” looking at “Funny Book”, you could find him watching old western movies – “The Duke” was his favorite western character. Alfred was a proud Father, Grandfather and Great-Grandfather and embraced Melba’s family and loved them as his own.

Many times Alfred was asked about retiring – his reply – “When they throw dirt in my face”.

Alfred went home to be received by his loving Lord and Savior, with his loving wife Melba Jo by his side at their ranch in Seguin, TX.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his son-in-law, Roland Rangel and his brother-in-law, Roger Snider.

Survivors include his loving wife, Melba Jo Snider Boren Riedel; children, Patty Rangel, Wade Riedel, Dee Ann Riedel Lickert, Rusty Boren, Rory Boren, and Racee Martin and husband Dale; grandchildren, Jason Rangel, Logan Rangel, Tyler Riedel and husband Lance Williams, Clayton Riedel, Justin Lickert, Mitchell Lickert, Brayden Boren, Brittani Leach and husband Jeff, Brandt Boren, Lucas Martin, and Katlyn Volney and husband Trent; great-grandchildren, Easton Lickert, and Myranda Lickert; sisters, Maryann Specht and husband Elton, and Sharon Harlow and husband Ed; brothers-in-law, Donald Snider and wife Dorothy, and Larry Snider and wife Linda; sister-in-law, Laverne Snider; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other loving family members and many friends.

Memorial contributions may be made to Cross Church, 814 N. Bauer, Seguin, Texas, 78155 or to the Texas Quarter Horse Association Foundation, 706 W. 11th St., Suite D, Elgin, Texas 78621.