Ritter, Francis M. (Bill) 1912-1981

RITTER, RAIRDON, WIDMER, SMITH, SEIBERLING, RANIER, CLARK

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 10/31/2009 at 16:54:52

Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; July 30, 1981

BILL RITTER DIES IN PHOENIX

Francis M. (Bill) Ritter, 68, of 410 W. Maryland, Phoenix, Ariz., former owner of Ritter's Hardware here, died at his home early Wednesday morning after a long heart-related illness.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Smith Funeral Home, where friends may call.

The son of Harry R. and Carrie Ada Rairdon Ritter, he was born Dec. 12, 1912, in Grinnell. He was a graduate of Grinnell High School and later attended mortuary school in St. Louis, Mo., where he obtained his funeral director's license. He worked with Ft. Dodge and Montezuma funeral homes.

During World War II, he served with the U.S. Army in Europe. Following his discharge, he was associated with his father and his brother, Frank, in the operation of Ritter's Hardware.

He was a member of Hermon Masonic Lodge No. 273, Focht-Tennant Post No. 53, American Legion, and B.P.O. Elks Lodge No. 1266.

Survivors include his wife, Alice; a daughter, Judith Kay Widmer of Searsboro, a brother, Frank Ritter of Grinnell; two sisters, Ruth Smith of Novato, Calif., and Alliene Seiberling of Orange, Calif.; and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Jerry, in infancy; two sisters, Vera Ranier and Hazel Clark; and a brother, Harry N. Ritter.