Ritchie Paul Tidwell, 79, passed away on October 19, 2026. Ritchie is survived by his wife, Susan Milton Tidwell. They were married for 57 years and were members of Chapin Christian Community Church where he served several years in the parking ministry. He was the son of the late Troy E. and Lucile Baxter Tidwell. He was predeceased by his sister, Susan Kay Nichols.
A native of Marianna, Florida, he graduated with honors from Marianna High School in 1964. He earned an A.A. degree from Chipola College, a B.S. degree in Journalism from the University of Florida and an M.S degree in Social Welfare from Florida State University. At the University of Florida he was a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity.
Ritchie was a believer in Christ, a devoted family man, public servant, criminal-justice leader, consultant, military officer, and longtime advocate for crime victims.
He and Susan lived in Tallahassee, Florida, for 10 years and he was employed as a reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat while attending graduate school at FSU. After a brief period of active duty in the U. S. Army, he returned to Tallahassee and was employed by the Florida House of Representatives where he helped draft legislation establishing a statewide juvenile intake, probation, aftercare, detention program for youthful offenders. He also worked for the Florida Division of Youth Services, Bureau of Criminal Justice Assistance and the Florida Center for Children and Youth.
In 1979 he moved to South Carolina and served under Governor Richard Riley as Director of Criminal Justice Programs and later as Director of the Division of Public Safety. He led initiatives including the South Carolina Crime Victims Bill of Rights and helped introduce juvenile-arbitration programs, which later expanded statewide. Governor Riley awarded him the Order of the Palmetto in 1987.
Through Tidwell & Associates, founded in 1987, he helped secure more than $300 million in federal grants for state and local agencies and school districts in South Carolina, Florida, New Jersey and North Carolina. His work supported mental health, substance-abuse treatment, youth reentry, safe-schools, women’s residential treatment, and HIV/AIDS programs. His firm piloted school district efficiency studies in South Carolina. He partnered with the Medical University of South Carolina on victims’ rights and child-victim court protocols, served as an adjunct professor, and devoted more than 30 years to the S.C. Victim Assistance Network. He was a past president and board member of SCVAN and received its Distinguished Humanitarian Award in 2020. He was also a charter member of the Lake Murrary Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow.
In 2006 he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Army Reserves.
He lived with his wife, Susan, on Lake Murray in Chapin, South Carolina. They are very proud of their two sons, Ryan (Claire) and Jaret, and grandchildren, Jackson and Corinne. He had numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He and Susan loved to entertain, boat on Lake Murray, travel to various parts of the U.S. and many worldwide destinations. He was a devoted University of Florida Gators fan, having attended many football games in the past.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM, Saturday, October 31, 2026, at Chapin Christian Community Church. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.
The family would like to thank Center Well Home Health Care and Visiting Angels for their care and help during Ritchie’s illness.
Donations may be made to Ritchie’s scholarship fund at the South Carolina Victims Assistance Network, P. O. Box 212863, Columbia, SC 29221, or through their link www.scvan.org. Donations may also go to the American Heart Association.
Whitaker Funeral Home is honored to serve the Tidwell family.
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