Roll Call Tribute
John Ritter II '69 March 8, 2018 8:32 AM updated: March 8, 2018 8:35 AM
(Published in) The (Childress) Red River Sun (on) 24 Jan 2019
John Thomas Ritter, II
John Ritter was born at Worley Hospital in Pampa, Texas on November 9, 1946 to John T. Ritter and Betty Jane Ellis Ritter. Mrs. Ritter was living in Wellington at the time with her parents while her husband served as a U.S. Navy aviator.
John died at Harris Hospital in Bedford, Texas on the afternoon of January 8, 2018, at age 71. The cause of death was sepsis from a chronic sinus infection associated with septic shock. His family donated his body to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas.
As a child, John lived in Waco while his parents completed their education at Baylor University. His parents were school teachers while the family lived in Pampa, and later in Arlington.
Very active in Boy Scouts, John spent time at Philmont Camp in New Mexico and earned his Eagle Scout status. He attended Texas A&M University where he received a degree in zoology.
John attended Officers Candidate School at Fort Belvoir, Va. graduating second in his class. Then stationed at Fort Knox, Ky., John served as a courier to U.S. Forces in Europe. He entered the Army Reserve as a Major and served for 18 years. During this time, he and his unit were assigned to Fort Chaffee, Ark. to assist in the relocation of the Vietnamese people. Active in the Reserve Officers Association, he served as president of the Oklahoma chapter.
John worked for Pfizer Pharmaceutical and became a National Sales Representative of the year. Later he was employed by the 3M Corporation and Siemans as a medical equipment salesman.
John married Marcia Kleinsmith of Stillwater, Okla. and they had three children.
In later years John lived in Watagua, Texas and became a member of the LifePoint Fellowship Church in Haslet where his Memorial Service was held January 13, 2018.
Both parents predeceased him. He is survived by his wife, Jennifer; his sister, Lisa Blessing and husband, Dr. Scott Blessing of Dallas; a son, Zack Ritter of Fort Worth; daughters Meredith Ritter Neff and husband, Dr. Justin Neff and Whitney Ritter White and husband Eric of Fort Worth; and an uncle, his mother's brother, Dr. Dick. G. Ellis and wife Kay of Fort Worth.
John's maternal grandparents were Dewey Ellis and Bess Bobo Ellis who lived in Wellington until 1954.
John Thomas Ritter, II
John Ritter was born at Worley Hospital in Pampa, Texas on November 9, 1946 to John T. Ritter and Betty Jane Ellis Ritter. Mrs. Ritter was living in Wellington at the time with her parents while her husband served as a U.S. Navy aviator.
John died at Harris Hospital in Bedford, Texas on the afternoon of January 8, 2018, at age 71. The cause of death was sepsis from a chronic sinus infection associated with septic shock. His family donated his body to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas.
As a child, John lived in Waco while his parents completed their education at Baylor University. His parents were school teachers while the family lived in Pampa, and later in Arlington.
Very active in Boy Scouts, John spent time at Philmont Camp in New Mexico and earned his Eagle Scout status. He attended Texas A&M University where he received a degree in zoology.
John attended Officers Candidate School at Fort Belvoir, Va. graduating second in his class. Then stationed at Fort Knox, Ky., John served as a courier to U.S. Forces in Europe. He entered the Army Reserve as a Major and served for 18 years. During this time, he and his unit were assigned to Fort Chaffee, Ark. to assist in the relocation of the Vietnamese people. Active in the Reserve Officers Association, he served as president of the Oklahoma chapter.
John worked for Pfizer Pharmaceutical and became a National Sales Representative of the year. Later he was employed by the 3M Corporation and Siemans as a medical equipment salesman.
John married Marcia Kleinsmith of Stillwater, Okla. and they had three children.
In later years John lived in Watagua, Texas and became a member of the LifePoint Fellowship Church in Haslet where his Memorial Service was held January 13, 2018.
Both parents predeceased him. He is survived by his wife, Jennifer; his sister, Lisa Blessing and husband, Dr. Scott Blessing of Dallas; a son, Zack Ritter of Fort Worth; daughters Meredith Ritter Neff and husband, Dr. Justin Neff and Whitney Ritter White and husband Eric of Fort Worth; and an uncle, his mother's brother, Dr. Dick. G. Ellis and wife Kay of Fort Worth.
John's maternal grandparents were Dewey Ellis and Bess Bobo Ellis who lived in Wellington until 1954.
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