Ritter, Virginia 1916-1961

RITTER, VAN FOSSEN, TROTH, PUGH

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 4/8/2012 at 21:51:28

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; July 17, 1961

VIRGINIA RITTER DIES SUDDENLY

Mrs. Virginia Ritter, 45, wife of Francis (Bill) M. Ritter, died early Friday afternoon at Mercy hospital in Iowa City after a brief illness. She had been hospitalized only five days.

Funeral services were held this afternoon (Monday) from the Grinnell Methodist church with the pastor, the Rev. Dr. G.S. Bruland officiating. Burial was in the Odd Fellows cemetery at Montezuma with Smith Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Organ music at the services was provided by Mrs. Kathleen Heffner. Flower bearers were Mrs. Gene Martinson, Mrs. Gene McCurry, Mrs. Wilbur Noel, and Mrs. Florence Steffy. Serving as pallbearers were Robert H. Gilbert, Curtis Gould, George R. Hargrave, Ralph F. Hamman, Clifford C. Monroe, and Dr. Chase Weeber.

Mrs. Ritter was the daughter of Roland and Mabel Van Fossen Troth and was born March 9, 1916, at Deep River. She received her early education at Deep River, and later when the family moved to Montezuma, attended Montezuma high school and graduated with the class of 1934.

She was united in marriage on January 1, 1937, to Francis M. Ritter by the Rev. Gerald Krenmyre at Montezuma. To this union two children were born: Jerry Lee, who passed away in infancy, and Judith Kay, 17, at the family home.

The family lived in Montezuma and Fort Dodge for a time and have made their home in Grinnell since 1940. Mrs. Ritter attended the Grinnell Methodist church and had been a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars auxiliaries.

She is survived by her husband and daughter at the family home in Grinnell; her father, Roland Troth of Montezuma; a sister, Mrs. Foster (Darlene) Pugh of Montezuma; and a brother, Paul E. Troth of Downey, Calif.

Mrs. Ritter was preceded in death by her son, Jerry Lee, in 1939, and her mother in 1956.