Edgar Alva Ritter, age 88, a long time resident of Ava and Douglas County, passed away Saturday, Aug. 6, 2005, in Cox Medical Center South in Springfield, following a short illness.
He was born Oct. 30, 1916, in Douglas County, near Ava, to Charles and Blanche Catherine (Hutchins) Ritter. On March 1, 1937, in Ava, he was united in marriage to Edith Lorene Kunze, and to this union seven children were born.
He worked at Lakey’s Sawmill when his family was young, ran a milk route for 10 years and was a truck driver for Crystal Lake Fisheries until his retirement. All the while he ran his farm, milking and raising beef cattle. He was a member of the Black Oak Flat Church.
Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Edith, of the home; seven children, Marie King, of Ava, Monroe and Lee Ritter, of Liberty, Mo., Linda and Kenneth Prock, of Wasola, Stella Upshaw, of Neosho, Mo., Charles Eugene (Gene) Ritter, of Ava, Hugh Ritter, of Altes, Ark., and James (J.C.) and Sheree Ritter, of Bethel, Penns.; seven grandchildren, Kimberland Charles and Laura Ritter, Gregory and Marnie Ritter, Jeanetta and Allen Bahnmiller, Charles (Chuck) and Elaine King, Terrie Adams, Dennis Prock and Lorene Upshaw; as well as many great-grandchildren and step great-grandchildren; he is also survived by two brothers, Bob Ritter and Clifford Ritter, both of Bettendorf, Iowa; and a sister, Stella Miller, of Ava.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Lester Ritter; and a sister, Fredia Ritter.
Funeral services for Alva Ritter will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 11, in Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, with Rev. Larry Vinson and Rev. Robert Roberts officiating. Burial will follow in Dobbs Cemetery, Ava. Visitation was held from 6-7 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 10, in the funeral home.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava.
