Donald L. Ritenour

Donald (Don) Lamont Ritenour, 89, of DeBary, FL, passed away at his home surrounded near and far by loved ones on Tuesday, January 10, 2023.

Don was born on December 14, 1933, to Merle and Ruth (Duffy) Ritenour in Boyers, PA. His childhood years were spent in Hubbard, Ohio. He married his high school sweetheart, Patti (McBride) Ritenour, in 1954 and their love and marriage lasted almost 60 years until her passing.

In addition to Patti, he was preceded in death by his parents, sister Jacqueline Carroll, and the untimely passing of his son, David Brian in 2020.

Don is survived and missed by his second wife of 10 years, Nadine Friel-Ritenour, his two daughters, Cheryl (Matt) Spears of Winter Springs, Florida, and Susan (Bob) Crosby of Kendallville, Indiana, and his daughter-in-law, Amy (Varney) Ritenour, of Euless, Texas. He is also survived by his six grandchildren, Tyler (Michelle) Johnson of Atsugi, Japan, Parker (Natalie) Crosby of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Brogan (Robbie) Sittema of Morrison, Colorado, Caleb Ritenour of New York City, New York, Grayson Ritenour of Lawrence, Kansas, and Emma Ritenour of Austin, Texas, and his four great-grandchildren, Jaylon and Emma Johnson and Brighton and Finley Crosby. Also surviving is his niece, Lynne, and nephews Sam and Michael Carroll and many, many cousins – all of whom he loved dearly.

Don was known for his love of God, family and country and would have laid down his life for any of the three. He served in the United States Air Force for 27 years achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and culminating his career as the Chief Navigator for the Military Airlift Command. In 2018, Don was celebrated with an Honor Flight touring the nation’s memorials accompanied by his daughter Susan and surprised by his grandson Tyler (who saluted him in full uniform) and his family who were then stationed at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C.

In his post-retirement, Don worked for the Boeing Company in Wichita, Kansas, before fully retiring in 1985 to the Lake of the Ozarks and later moving to Sanford, Florida, in 1993 and DeBary, Florida, in 2001. He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Sanford for thirty years where he participated in many ways serving the Lord.

Living out Frank Sinatra’s iconic song, “My Way”, Don lived a life that was full and with few regrets. He believed in giving back and was an avid volunteer for many organizations throughout his lifetime. Most notably, he volunteered at the Central Florida Regional Hospital for 17 years and was awarded the hospital's First Humanitarian Award as Volunteer of the Year in 2000. Fellow volunteers lovingly dubbed him an Honorary Pink Lady.

Don was a man of few words but was a vast wealth of knowledge. He loved to share his wisdom as well as his stories. Don will be greatly missed and forever loved.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a charity of your choice or performing an act of kindness in Don’s name.

A celebration of life service for Donald will be held Friday, January 27, 2023 at 11 am at First United Methodist Church of Sanford, 419 S. Park Avenue, Sanford, FL 32771. Prior to the Celebration of Life service will be a gathering of family and friends from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at First United Methodist Church, 419 S. Park Avenue, Sanford, FL 32771.

For those unable to join the service in person, please view here:

https://youtu.be/Y0c1rVPx3mc

https://youtu.be/ayf6aO_b49Q