John I. Ritter

Full Name: John I. Ritter Age: 65 Years Sex: M

Current address: Topeka

Date of death: Monday morning , February 3, 2003

Place of death: Colmery O'Neil VAMC, Topeka

Cause of death: Heart attack

Date of birth: March 11, 1937 Place of birth: Nickerson, KS

Parents: Victor Jonas and Geneva Elizabeth Bixler Ritter

Years in current city/town: 25 years

Background:grew up in the Sterling, Kansas area and graduated from Alden High School. He served in the U. S. Marine Corps from 1954 to 1962. He was wounded in the Korean Conflict and stationed in the Phillippines. He re-enlisted in 1981 in the Army Reserves and served until 1991. He was employed by Eaton Metal Products in Hutchinson, Kansas; the Kansas Chapter Land Improvement Contractors of America in Topeka,KS; St. Francis Health Center, Topeka, KS, where he retired in 1999. Member of the VFW Philip Billard Post
#1650 ; Fraternal Order of Eagles Lodge #4319, and the American Legion Post #1.

Relatives: Married to: Evelyn S. Bankey on June 18, 1960. They were divorced. Married Martha Miller
on March 14, 1980. They were divorced.

Immediate survivors:
Son: Shannon Ritter, Wamego, KS
Daughter: Michelle Ritter, Wamego, KS
Daughter: Johnita Wheeler, Louisville, KS
Grandchildren: 9
Great Grandchildren: 2
Brother: Gene Ritter, Wichita, KS
Sister: Mary Ritter, Wichita, KS
Brother: Jerry Ritter, Pearl, MS

Service time, day, date, place: Services will be at 11:00 a.m, Thursday, February 6, 2003 at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel.

Burial: Committal service will be at Wamego City Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, February 6, 2003


Visitation times, place: He will lie in state at Penwell Gabel Mid Town Chapel after 12:00 noon, Wednesday, February 5, 2003 where the family will receive friends from 7-8 p.m.

Memorial contributions, if any: Paralyzed Veterans of America, Mid America Chapter, 66108 NW 63rd Street; Suite A, Oklahoma City, OK 73132
or Colmery O'Neil Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Volunteer
Services, 2200 SW Gage Blvd. Topeka, KS 66622-0001