Helen E. Rider
Ocean Pines
Helen E. “Betty” Rider, 98, of Ocean Pines, passed away peacefully Sept. 22, 2026, at her home.
Born May 26, 1928, in Baltimore, she was the daughter of David F. Edwards Sr. and Helen E. Edwards, nee Ryan.
Betty graduated from Forest Park High School in 1946. She married Orrie John “Jake” Rider in June 1950. They had two sons, John and Robert Rider, and enjoyed family fishing trips when the boys were young.
In the 1970s, the family relocated to Cumberland, where Betty and Jake remained until his death in 1995.
A true maverick, Betty lived life on her own terms and returned to college later in life when her sons were teenagers. She graduated from Allegany College of Maryland and Frostburg University with degrees in history and economics.
A world traveler, Betty visited Greece, London, Italy, Paris and Russia while in college.
After college, she spent 25 years as a Maryland tax aide in downtown Cumberland, helping many families and individuals complete their annual federal income tax returns.
Later in life, she enjoyed playing tennis and golf with Jake. Her women’s golf team at Polish Pines won several league championships. She remained active well into her 90s, biking in Ocean Pines and enjoying farmers markets.
Betty also enjoyed traveling with her grandchildren and took them on various Elderhostel trips to London; Washington, D.C.; Wallops Island, Virginia; Lexington, Kentucky; and aboard the Auto Train to Florida.
She was also interested in genealogy and was able to trace her family roots to England and Scotland.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, Jake, in September 1995, and her brother, Lt. Col. David F. “Franklin” Edwards Jr., in 2013 at age 92.
She is survived by her sons, John Rider and his wife, Molly Stakem Rider, and Rob Rider and his wife, Brookellen Rider; grandchildren, Sarah (Chris), Patrick (Rachel), Annie and Jake; and great-grandchildren, Olivia and John.
A small service at Rocky Gap Veterans Cemetery will be held at a later date.
Donations in her memory may be made to the Barack Obama Foundation, PO Box 758642, Topeka, Kansas 66675 or Coastal Hospice, PO Box 1733, Salisbury, Md. 21802.