James Richard Ritchie, also known as Dick or Granddad to family and friends, passed away peacefully on Sunday April 21, 2024 at the age of 92 in Forney, Texas. He was born in Tecumseh Oklahoma to Lewis Melvin Ritchie and Lydia Lillian London. He was an only child raised in a loving home in the Sherman-Denison area where he played football and graduated from Denison High School in 1950. Mary Kay caught his eye at the VFW Hall where Dick told his friends "Ima marry that girl." They married in May 1953 and soon after had their first baby girl Karen and eight years later came their second baby girl Lydia.
Dick served in the United States Air Force as a Staff Sergeant and was a member of the 64th Bomb Squadron and 43rd Bomb Wing. He received multiple medals for his service.
He was an entrepreneur at heart having started several successful businesses. He started Southwest Steel Supply, which he was able to retire from in his 5O's. He then became a commercial realtor, and started Asset Liquidators, and became an Auctioneer. Dick always enjoyed anything he was involved in and always told his children "if you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life."
Dick had many friends and met even more constantly through all of his hobbies he took on in his spare time. He always made time for his friends. Some of his most important were his little furry friends. The two most recent being his black lab, Blessing and his bichon, Snowball. His family often brought his pets to visit him in his final days.
He had a true love for learning and never wanted to stop, even up until the age of 92. Some of his passions were fishing, hunting, going to gun shows, being active in the NRA, boating of all kinds, photography, collector of coins and clocks, and he had a love for gardening. His children and family will always remember him as the Jack of all trades.
James Richard Ritchie is preceded in death by his mother, Lydia Lillian London, and his father Lewis Melvin Ritchie.
He is survived by: his wife of nearly 71 years Mary Kay Ritchie; his two daughters Karen VanLandingham and her spouse Jimmy and Lydia Randazzo and her spouse Mike; his grandchildren, Randy VanLandingham, Jennifer Gerold and her spouse Kevin (Karen's children), Tiffany Brennan and Trevor Randazzo (Lydia's children); his great-grandchildren, Mallorie McFarlin and Grayson Gerold (Jennifer’s children), Elle, Skylar, and Sienna Brennan (Tiffany's children).
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