JOE “PAP” RITCHIE
Joe Louis “Pap” Ritchie, 86, of Sardis, Ohio went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, January 3, 2024 at the Trinity Medical Center West, Steubenville, Ohio after fighting a long battle.
He was born near Sardis, Ohio on September 5, 1937 a son of the late William Conrad Ritchie and Bertha Virginia Leasure Ritchie.
Joe was a 1956 graduate of the River High School. He served as a cook in the Army National Guard. He delivered milk for a living until being employed at the former Conalco Aluminum Corp., Hannibal, Ohio.
Joe enjoyed living and working on the family farm where he was born and raised.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife of 47 years, Janet Kay Pittman Ritchie; a daughter, Joetta Virginia Todd; siblings Anna (Homer) Riggenbach, William “Buddy” (Nora) Ritchie, Carol (Floyd) Busche, Shirley (Marvin) Jowers and Dwight “Bus” Ritchie.
Surviving are a daughter, Julia Kay (Greg) Bell; one sister, Betty Lou Brown; his precious granddaughters he loved dearly, Kaylea Marie, Faith Elizabeth and Rebecca Lynn Bell; several nieces and nephews and a son-in-law, David Todd.
Friends will be received at the Watters Funeral Home, 37501 State Route 78 West, Woodsfield, Ohio from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Sunday, January 7, 2024 and from 10:00 a.m. until time of funeral services at 11:00 a.m. Monday, January 8, 2024 with Pastor Travis Mullet and Rev. Charles Leasure officiating. Burial will follow in the Locust Grove Cemetery near Sardis, Ohio.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Antioch Emergency Squad, c/o Nancy Langsdorf, 38371 State Route 800, Sardis, Ohio 43946 or to the Colonial Baptist Church, 201 Gumps Lane, Wintersville, Ohio 43953.