Louise Marie Ritter, “Mike,” age 82, died on June 29 in Oak Ridge following an extended period of health challenges.
She was born in Harrisburg, Pa., on August 25, 1929, to Esther Koons Mixell and Grant Harrison Mixell.
After growing up in the Harrisburg area, she attended and graduated from Dickenson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in 1952.
She was married to George G. Ritter from 1955 until 1999, and spent those years caring for her family, her home, and beloved pets. Mike took great solace in her garden, the nature that surrounded her and the always eager, loving presence of pets like Gerry, Fitz, Bennie, Casey, Kerrie, Memphis, and Shadow, along with animals she took in.
Louise is survived by her daughter Diane Louise Petrilla, married to Eric Reed Keller; sons, George Harrision Ritter and John Blake Ritter, married to Carew Lee Ritter; and most beloved grandchildren, Joel Eric Petrilla, married to Tara Michelle Howard, Allyson Marie Petrilla, Adrianne Clare Petrilla, Nicholas Gardner Ritter, Clare Almen Ritter, Jennifer Irene Ritter, and Shannon Grace Ritter; as well as extended family members and friends who had a long presence in her life and who meant so much to her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, by her sister Tamea Mixell Jones, niece Tamea Jones Giacomelli, and brother Grant Harrison Mixell Jr. of Carlisle, Pa.
Louise’s funeral was scheduled to be held at Weatherford Mortuary on Monday, July, 2 at 10 a.m. with interment to follow at Oak Ridge Memorial Park.
Her family suggests that in lieu of flowers a memorial donation be made to the ASPCA or to your local animal shelter, in her honor; this is a gift she would have taken great pleasure in.
“When I stopped seeing my mother with the eyes of a child, I saw the woman who helped me give birth to myself.”
An online guest book may be signed at weatherfordmortuary. com.
Leave a Reply