Ruth Ricker Ritchey passed away Sunday, Oct 5 at Mill Creek Nursing & Rehab Center in Galion, OH. She was 99 years old.
Even at that age, Ruth was eager to meet new people and connect with old friends, so she delighted in life at Mill Creek where the warm, caring staff were wonderful and she was part of a community of residents.
Ruth and her husband, Dan Ritchey, raised four children — David Ritchey, Lee Anne (Terry) Shifley, Ruth Anne (James) Deppen and Dan Ritchey — and owned a photography studio, Photorama, in Galion. Ruth retouched photos and painted pastel oils of portraits.
Dan Ritchey, her husband, passed away in 2017.
Ruth read inspirational books, sometimes in book clubs, and read materials from Unity Church. She practiced yoga throughout her adulthood. She enjoyed sharing her own personal spiritual insights with others.
A lifelong member of the First United Church of Christ, Ruth was active in church clubs and activities. Later she enjoyed reconnecting with church members who also lived at Mill Creek.
Stories abound about how Ruth helped people throughout her life. With her high school friends, Ruth founded the Happy Times Bridge Club, which played cards monthly from 1945 to 2012 – for 67 years.
She kept a big scrapbook about her Galion High School Class of 1944 and its many reunions and members. She and Dan helped organize the events and kept in touch with classmates.
Ruth and Dan loved to travel and had crisscrossed the United States. They spent many winters during their retirement at Isla del Sol – an island near St. Petersburg, FL – that they loved. When they were younger, they had many vacations at Put-in-Bay, OH, on Lake Erie.
Ruth enjoyed drawing and painting and she learned new artistic modes easily. She was part of a girls accordion musical group in the 1940s and played piano and sang throughout her life.
Ruth was a lifelong Galion resident. She and Dan promoted the local community, especially during the years they worked at the Galion Area Chamber of Commerce.
Ruth knew what was most important in life — the eternal truths that connect us to all other people and living beings, and the loving ties we can make with everyone we meet.
She lived with keen awareness in the present moment. While some older people may withdraw into memories of what was, Ruth was more interested in making new friends and having new experiences.
Survivors include her four children, mentioned above, and five grandchildren, Hal Shifley, Krisanna Deppen, Joe Deppen, Anthony Deppen and Jena Ritchey. She also is survived by three great-granddaughters, Louiza, Annabelle and Nora Deppen, and many nieces and nephews. Ruth was preceded in death by one granddaughter, Annie Shifley.
Ruth’s parents also preceded her in death – Ina Voleata Groh Ricker and Herman Ricker. Ruth’s siblings also passed away. They were Howard Ricker, Muriel Swaim, and Dorothy Schnelker.
A memorial service will be held at a future date.
Richardson Davis Chapel of Snyder Funeral Homes in Galion is honored to serve the family of Delilah Ault, and condolences may be made to them at www.SnyderFuneralHomes.com.
Funeral Home: Snyder Funeral Home Richardson Davis Chapel
Website: snyderfuneralhomes.com