Geraldine "Gerry" Ritter

Longtime Bucyrus resident Geraldine “Gerry” Ritter died, Sunday, February 24, 2019 at her son’s home in Gahanna where she was recently being cared for.



Geraldine was the late-in-life & premature daughter of Gertrude Bernice (Woodard) York and George Washington York of Lakewood, Ohio, born October 25, 1929. Her brothers (seventeen & fifteen years older) and their wives, Harold F. & Betty York and Clyde J. & Pearl York, all predeceased her. As her mother died several years after her marriage, Gerry was particularly close to her mother-in-law, Flora (Lambert) True as well as her brother –in–law & his wife, Charles E. & Mary Lou Allspaugh.



In 1948 Geraldine graduated from St. Augustine Academy, Lakewood. A neighbor’s son, home on leave from the United States Air Force, was attracted to her. Subsequently, she married Donald W. Ritter on October 29, 1949 at St. Hubert’s Episcopal Chapel, Kirtland Hills, Ohio. Her new husband after graduating from the Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy moved the family to the Toledo area. In 1956 they moved the family to Bucyrus where she has resided for sixty-three blessed years.



During her lifetime she enjoyed various employments and made many friends. While in school she worked for six years as a clerk for Standard Drug Company. After graduation she worked as a bill of lading clerk at Warner G. Smith Railroad Shipping and as a bill of lading clerk for Republic Steel Corporation. In Toledo she worked as a clerk for Hickok Oil Company. In Bucyrus she worked as a cashier and office clerk at Clover Farm grocery store, as a commercial representative of the United Telephone Company, as a teacher’s aide for the Bucyrus City Schools pre-school Head Start program, and finally, as a clerk at OSU Marion. It was during this time that Gerry enrolled at OSU Marion and completed a number of courses in elementary education.



Gerry was an accomplished homemaker, loved making various crafts and knitting. The entire family loved her potato salad and the many batches of sugar cookies. Gerry always enjoyed travelling the world with her husband and family. She had a fondness for piano music.



Gerry was a member of St. James Episcopal Church serving in the altar guild, as a Sunday school teacher, in the choir & vestry clerk. Gerry served for fifteen years as the church school director. In her later years she was a member of the Red Hatters, The Clionians Club, the King’s Daughters & Sons In-As-Much Circle and Belle Hoffman Michael Home serving as President, Board of Trustees two years. She enjoyed the local arts serving ten years as the Bucyrus Little Theater props manager and was a supporting actress in two productions. She and her husband liked painting & selling ceramic & resin Santa & holiday figurines during the Bratwurst Festival and Christmas bazaars. She did that for almost twenty years.



One of her leisure time passions was playing American Contract Bridge which she did for over fifty years. Initially she played with the Ohio State Highway Patrol Wives Bridge Club. She currently plays with the Bridge Biddies, the Bucyrus Bridge Buddies, the Nine’s Bridge Club and Night Bridge Club. She taught a number of people how to play. Gerry enjoyed the challenge of the game and socializing with her many friends.



Her husband of 53 years, Donald W. Ritter, predeceased her in 2003. She is survived by her sons and their wives, Gary C. & Patricia Ritter (Vienna, Virginia) and Michael J. & Jean Ritter (Gahanna, Ohio); her four grandsons and their wives, Gregory M. & Krisanee Ritter (Hilliard, Ohio), Steven G. & Nancy Ritter (Falls Church, Virginia), Shawn C. & Holly Ritter (Powell, Ohio) and David Z. Ritter (Portland, Oregon); and three great grandchildren, Luke B. Ritter, Thomas P. Ritter and Marin E. Ritter, numerous nephews and nieces, long time close friend –Ms. Judy Dible and of course, Sweetie Pie her loving cat.



The Ritter family will receive friends from 5:30 to 7:30 pm Friday, March 1 at Wise Funeral Service, 129 W. Warren St. Bucyrus, Ohio. An inurnment service for Geraldine will be held Saturday at Trinity Cathedral, 2021 E. 22nd St., Cleveland.



In lieu of flowers, her family specifically request that donations be made payable to The James Cancer Hospital, PO Box 183112, Columbus, Ohio 43218 or to a charity of the individual’s choice. These gifts will be accepted through the funeral home.