Service
Saturday, January 24, 2009
10:00 AM EST
Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes
Kalamazoo Location
6080 Stadium Drive
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
(269) 375-2900
Driving Directions
Contributions
At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.
Centrica Care Navigators
7100 Stadium Drive
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
(269) 345-0273
Driving Directions
Web Site
Flowers
Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home.
Ambati
1830 S. Westnedge
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
(269) 349-4961
Driving Directions
Web Site
Life Story / Obituary
Bill was the kind of man others could count on. He was always there for his wife, children and grandchildren, even when health issues challenged him later in life. Bill was a faithful husband, loving father, devoted grandfather and great grandfather who put his family above all else.
Born on March 27, 1935 in Kalamazoo, Michigan to Clyde and Julia Ritchie, Bill was the ninth of eleven children. Clyde and Julia worked hard to raise Bill and his siblings: Edward, Ann, Paul, Ilene, Sarah, Clyde Jr., Betty, Joyce, Mary and Walt. The years following Bill’s birth were difficult years known as the Great Depression. The family did the best they could and of course with such a large family, everyone was expected to help out. Bill played with his friends and siblings on Riverview Drive, when he wasn’t attending school.
One fateful day, he met a pretty young lady named Vivian Dykstra and asked her to accompany him to church. Even though Bill was smitten with Vivian, she was not yet smitten with him. It took a year, but Bill’s charm finally won her over! They started dating, fell in love and made their love official on August 18, 1961.
The young couple started their married life in Kalamazoo on Van Zee Road, later living on Milham Road for a time. In 1963 Bill and Vivian were blessed with the arrival of their son, William Ritchie Jr. and a year later, their second son, Robert.
Bill was employed early in life at Kalamazoo Stationary, West Tab and The Brunswick Co. Tragedy struck in 1969, when Bill fell at work from a height of thirty feet, falling into a scrap bin and injuring his back. This resulted in three back operations. Tragedy struck again, a few years later when the farm house where they were living, caught on fire. Through it all Bill and Vivian persevered. They attended and helped out at Grace Missionary Baptist Church. Bill was instrumental in purchasing a cross for the church. Many years later Bill suffered a heart attack and dealt with other chronic illnesses.
Bill was a supportive father and devoted family man. When they could, he and Vivian would pack up the boys and head out for camping adventures and traveling. They cherished the time they spent together as a family. Attending William’s and Robert’s sporting events was something Bill would never miss. He could also be found every Friday night at the boys’ bowling leagues, cheering them on from the side lines.
In his spare time, Bill enjoyed watching sports on T.V. He was an avid fan of the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Lions, as well as the University of Michigan. In his quieter moments, he enjoyed planting flowers, drawing, painting and other crafts. (Some of Bill’s paintings were put on display in the community room at Evergreen North, where they lived). Bill also liked to play Bingo. When he could, he loved listening to Gospel music and watching the Gaithers on video.
Bill was thrilled to become the grandfather of six beautiful children: Jennifer, Lauryn, Lyndsey, Heather, Marissa, and Isabella. All grandparents want to spoil their grandchildren with love and attention, but Bill was especially happy to shower attention on his six granddaughters! He kept apprised of all their activities and attended as many of them as he could. Although it was brief, he cherished the time spent with his great grandson Wesley, finally a boy!!
Bill was a man whose top priority was his family. He not only supported them, he spent time with them, loved them, and gave the best he had to give. Bill will be missed by all who were blessed to know him in his long and fruitful life.
William Ritchie Sr. died January 20, 2009 after a long illness. He was preceded in death by his parents Clyde and Julia; 2 brothers: Edward and Paul Ritchie; 2 sisters: Mary Ritchie and Ilene Phelps; father and mother-in-law: Richard (Marion) Dykstra; and 4 brothers-in-law: Luke (Betty) Mennes, Floyd (Joyce) Patterson, Richard (Sarah) Bradshaw, and Edward (Ann) Marcinkowski. Bill is survived by his wife of 47 years, Vivian Ritchie; 2 sons: William (Robin) Ritchie Jr. and Robert (Carla) Ritchie; 6 grandchildren: Jennifer, Lauryn, and Lyndsey Ritchie, Marissa and Isabella Ritchie, and Heather (Jim) Lieburn; 1 great-grandchild: Wesley Lieburn; 2 brothers: Clyde (Gloria) Ritchie and Walt (Alice) Ritchie; 4 sisters: Betty Mennes, Joyce Patterson, Sarah Bradshaw, and Ann Marcinkowski; 2 brothers-in-law: Norman (Halo) Dykstra and Harry Phelps; and several nieces and nephews. A service to honor his life will take place on Saturday 10AM at Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler – 6080 Stadium Drive – Kalamazoo, 375-2900. Please visit Bill’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can archive a memory or photo, sign his memory book before coming to the funeral home or make a memorial contribution to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan or charity of choice