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Bro. Claude devoted his life to ministry and serving others.

Bro. Claude Frank Waldridge, 81, husband of Jo Ann Best Waldridge, passed away on October 28, 2026, at Baptist Health in Lexington, Kentucky. Born on January 5, 1945, in Anderson County, Kentucky, he was the son of the late Wilbert Waldridge and Ruth Langford Waldridge.

Bro. Claude was a member of Graefenburg Christian Church, where he served as associate minister, and devoted his life to ministry and serving others. He graduated from Western Anderson High School in 1963 and earned his bachelor’s degree from Kentucky Christian College. Throughout his ministry, he served several Christian churches across Kentucky, including more than 20 years at Grapevine Christian Church in Mercer County, his longest ministry. He took particular pride in helping establish Lebanon Christian Church and serving as its first minister.

Bro. Claude was also retired from the Kentucky Department of Corrections. He enjoyed University of Kentucky sports and took great pride in his four grandchildren. Always working, ministering, and serving, he touched countless lives through his kindness and welcoming spirit. Those who entered a room as strangers would leave as his friends.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by six siblings, J.W. Waldridge, Norman Waldridge, Manson Waldridge, Billy Waldridge, Mary Helen Webb, and Marie Elise Broughton.

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Those who entered a room as strangers would leave as his friends.

Bro. Claude is survived by his wife of 57 years, Jo Ann; two daughters, Claudette (Charles) Tracy and Heather (Troy) Chilton, both of Lawrenceburg, Kentucky; four grandchildren, Jouitt Tracy, Audrey Tracy, Elisabeth Chilton, and Jackson Chilton; and a brother, Wilbert Waldridge, Jr., of North Carolina.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Monday, November 2, 2026, at Ritchie & Peach Funeral Home, 701 North Main Street, Lawrenceburg, Kentucky 40342, with Bro. Andrew Messinger officiating. Burial will follow in Lawrenceburg Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Sunday, November 1, 2026, and from 11:00 A.M. until the time of the service on Monday.

Serving as pallbearers will be Tim Waldridge, Brian McGuire, Jonathan Webb, Ashley Waldridge, Manson Waldridge, Jr., and Billy Waldridge, Jr. Honorary pallbearers will be the elders of Graefenburg Christian Church.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Camp Calvary, 475 Camp Calvary Lane, Mackville, KY 40040, or Grapevine Christian Church, 1705 Grapevine Road, Harrodsburg, KY 40330.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Ritchie & Peach Funeral Home in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. Condolences may be shared online at www.ritchieandpeach.com.