Obituary for Wesley Lane Ritter
Greer Funeral Home
235 South Pennsylvania
Mangum, Oklahoma 73554
(580) 782-3323
fax (580) 782-3652
RITTER
Wesley Lane Ritter, age 65, of Vinita and formerly of Mangum, passed away at his home in Vinita, Thursday afternoon, August 13, 2009.
Mr. Ritter was born in Mangum, Oklahoma on February 25, 1944, to Robert M. and Myrtle (Combs) Ritter. After graduating from Mangum High School, he joined the United States Navy in 1962, and served until 1965. After his discharge he moved to Canyon City, Colorado where he met and married Carol Berger. In 1969, he reenlisted in the U.S. Navy and served until October of 1970, when he moved back to Oklahoma and began working in the oil fields. In 1971, Wesley moved to Talihina, Oklahoma where he worked in the lumber industry and later moved to Odessa, Texas to work in the oil fields. In 1986, Wesley began a twenty-year career with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections with his first assignment being at the Oklahoma State Reformatory in Granite. In August of 1988, he transferred to the William S. Key Correctional Facility at, Ft. Supply, and in August of 2006, he began working with the Department of Corrections Agricultural Service, transferring to the Northeast Oklahoma Correctional Facility, in Vinita, on October 1, 1994. In 2002, Wesley was named the Employee of the Year, by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections for saving an inmate"s life. He finally retired on March 31, 2006, giving him more time to spend on his hobby of building and flying Ultralight Airplanes. Wesley also enjoyed traveling and spending time with his family and friends.
Preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Bill Ritter and one sister-in-law, Evelyn Ritter, he is survived by two sons, Lonny Ritter and wife Chasity of Elk City and Tommy Ritter and wife Tammy of Canyon City, Colorado; six grandchildren, Derek Ritter and Sarah Ritter of Elk City, Brittany Ritter, Stalyne Vasquez, Vivianna Vasquez and Tatum Vasquez all of Canyon City, Colorado; one sister, Effie Thompson and husband Tommy of Mangum; four brothers, John Ritter of Big Flat, Arkansas, Melvis Ritter and wife Velma of Mangum, Skipper Ray Ritter and wife Peggy of Mangum and Floyd Ritter and wife Debbie of Edmond; one sister-in-law, Hazel Ritter of Mangum along with many other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Wesley Lane Ritter will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, August 17, 2009, at the Mangum First Baptist Church with Pastor John Robles officiating. Interment will follow at Roselawn Cemetery under the direction of Greer Funeral Home of Mangum.
The family will greet friends at Greer Funeral Home on Sunday, August 16, 2009, from 4 until 5 p.m.
Online tributes may be made to the family at www.GreerFuneral.com
08/16/2009
4:00 PM
5:00 PM
Visitation
Greer Funeral Home
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235 South Pennsylvania
Mangum, Oklahoma 73554
(580) 782-3323
fax (580) 782-3652
RITTER
Wesley Lane Ritter, age 65, of Vinita and formerly of Mangum, passed away at his home in Vinita, Thursday afternoon, August 13, 2009.
Mr. Ritter was born in Mangum, Oklahoma on February 25, 1944, to Robert M. and Myrtle (Combs) Ritter. After graduating from Mangum High School, he joined the United States Navy in 1962, and served until 1965. After his discharge he moved to Canyon City, Colorado where he met and married Carol Berger. In 1969, he reenlisted in the U.S. Navy and served until October of 1970, when he moved back to Oklahoma and began working in the oil fields. In 1971, Wesley moved to Talihina, Oklahoma where he worked in the lumber industry and later moved to Odessa, Texas to work in the oil fields. In 1986, Wesley began a twenty-year career with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections with his first assignment being at the Oklahoma State Reformatory in Granite. In August of 1988, he transferred to the William S. Key Correctional Facility at, Ft. Supply, and in August of 2006, he began working with the Department of Corrections Agricultural Service, transferring to the Northeast Oklahoma Correctional Facility, in Vinita, on October 1, 1994. In 2002, Wesley was named the Employee of the Year, by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections for saving an inmate"s life. He finally retired on March 31, 2006, giving him more time to spend on his hobby of building and flying Ultralight Airplanes. Wesley also enjoyed traveling and spending time with his family and friends.
Preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Bill Ritter and one sister-in-law, Evelyn Ritter, he is survived by two sons, Lonny Ritter and wife Chasity of Elk City and Tommy Ritter and wife Tammy of Canyon City, Colorado; six grandchildren, Derek Ritter and Sarah Ritter of Elk City, Brittany Ritter, Stalyne Vasquez, Vivianna Vasquez and Tatum Vasquez all of Canyon City, Colorado; one sister, Effie Thompson and husband Tommy of Mangum; four brothers, John Ritter of Big Flat, Arkansas, Melvis Ritter and wife Velma of Mangum, Skipper Ray Ritter and wife Peggy of Mangum and Floyd Ritter and wife Debbie of Edmond; one sister-in-law, Hazel Ritter of Mangum along with many other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Wesley Lane Ritter will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, August 17, 2009, at the Mangum First Baptist Church with Pastor John Robles officiating. Interment will follow at Roselawn Cemetery under the direction of Greer Funeral Home of Mangum.
The family will greet friends at Greer Funeral Home on Sunday, August 16, 2009, from 4 until 5 p.m.
Online tributes may be made to the family at www.GreerFuneral.com
08/16/2009
4:00 PM
5:00 PM
Visitation
Greer Funeral Home
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