Gerald R. Ritchie

He was born in Marietta, OH on Aug. 27, 1936 to Fred F. Ritchie and Dorothy I. Johnson Ritchie (Biehl).

He was a graduate with the Class of ’53 Marietta High School. He had served in the U.S. Army, retiring in 1983 with the rank of Master Sergeant. He joined the service shortly after graduation and had served overseas in Korea, Japan, Germany and three tours in Vietnam, where he was awarded the Bronze Star and the Silver Star. He was a graduate of PCC. He also retired from the Wood County Board of Education as a bus driver, a job he enjoyed until his retirement.

He is survived by his father, Fred F. Ritchie, of Belpre, OH; four sons, Bryan (Jody) of Clear Brook, VA, Bruce (Stacy) of Marietta, Blane (Linda) of Marietta, and Blake (Amanda) of Slate, WV; his former wife and mother of his sons, LaMoyne Ann McCartney of Normantown, WV; six grandchildren, Corey, Hannah, Ashleigh, Bradyn, Lacy, and Jocelyn; two step-grandchildren, Jacinda and Billy Hutson; two brothers, Ronald of Ft. Meyers, FL and Roger (Jane) of Marietta, OH; four half-brothers, Dr. Douglas (Yvonne) Ritchie of Williamstown, WV, Dane (Anita) Ritchie of Belpre, OH, Tommy Biehl of Wilmington, OH, and Jerry (Kelly) Biehl of Marietta, OH; and three half-sisters, Peggy (Lonnie) Casto of Williamstown, Jody Anderson of Richmond, VA, and Jan E. Miller of Marietta, OH.

He was preceded in death by his mother in 1998; his step-mother, Virginia Moore Ritchie; his brother, Duane Ritchie, his half-brother, Daryl Biehl, and his former mother and father-in-law, Burnell and Irene Pugh.

Services will be held Sunday at 3:00 p.m. at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home, Parkersburg, with Rev. Randy Dornon officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memory Gardens with military rites by the American Legion Post #15.

Visitation will be from 1-3 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.sunsetparkersburg.com.