RITTER, EDWARD KENNETH “KEN”
E. Kenneth “Ken” Ritter, 87, of Phoenix, Arizona, died at home on June 2, 2014.
Ken was born March 30, 1927 in Cumberland, Maryland to parents Alfred and Effie Ritter. He attended LaSalle High School in Cumberland Maryland, where he was senior class president. After serving in the United States Army from 1947 to 1950, he went on to attend Pasadena City College, and completed his engineering education at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, California.
He married Rose Marie Neuneker and joined Lincoln Electric as a welding engineer in 1954. Ken and Rose began raising their family of seven children in Marion, Iowa, later moving to Davenport, Iowa. He moved his family to Phoenix in 1977. He was honored to work nearly 40 years for Lincoln Electric, a company known for its principles, integrity and its great respect for employees. He retired as district sales manager in 1994.
Ken is survived by his wife Rose, his children, Lisa (James) Grabenbauer of Omaha, Nebraska, Kurt “Tex” Ritter of Phoenix, Dana (Jere) Johnson of Gilbert, Julie Baum of Tampa, Florida, Laura (Burke) Files of Tempe, Margaret Ritter of Phoenix, and John (Linda) Ritter of Santa Monica, California, as well as 15 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred and Effie, and his siblings, Clara Beatrice Ritter (infant), Robert Alfred Ritter, Ida Beatrice Ritter, John George Macbeth Ritter, Margaret Kitzmiller, and Donald Ritter.
Ken led a life devoted to God and to his family. Services to celebrate his life include Visitation from 5-8 PM with a Rosary beginning at 7 PM, Friday evening, June 6th, 2014 at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road. The Funeral Mass will be on Saturday, June 7, at 3 PM at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 4715 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix. In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to St. Francis Xavier Capital Campaign, or to Hospice of the Valley.
Kurt and Family,
Shari and I won’t be making the trip to Phoenix this weekend, but our thoughts and prayers will be with you and everyone in your family this weekend.
JP and Shari
I am so very sorry to hear about the passing of Ken. No doubt he will be very missed by family and many friends.
My condolences to the entire Ritter family on your loss.
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http://www.duffylawoffice.com
Our thoughts and prayers are with you on the passing of Ken. We can recall the many times that both John and Eleanor Duffy got together with you, both here in Davenport at the old Sacred Heart cathedral as well as down in Phoenix. May he rest in peace.
The Duffy Family