Shirley Ritchie

Mrs. Shirley Peeler Ritchie, Ph.D., passed away at the age of 84 on Nov. 19, 2015, after a brief illness. A loving wife, mother and grandmother and community advocate for public education, she will be greatly missed. Shirley was born on Sept. 17, 1931, in Salisbury to the late Clifford Alexander Peeler and Lillian Caldwell Peeler. She graduated Boyden High School in 1949, attended Greensboro College for one year before transferring to Catawba College and graduating in 1952 with a double major in religion and philosophy and sociology. After working as a social worker, then in the elementary Salisbury City Schools as a counselor, teacher and innovator in open education, she then became an instructor and program director for Early Childhood Gifted Project at UNC-Charlotte. All the while she was continuing her education and earned a Masters in Guidance and Counseling and a Doctorate in Childhood Development and Family Relations from UNC-Greensboro. She joined the faculty of Catawba College in 1981 where she served as a professor of education until her retirement in 1993. She served on the Catawba College Board of Trustees from 2000 and until 2014 and served as Secretary. Shirley married her “high school sweetheart” and husband of 64 years, Raymond Cecil Ritchie, on March 25, 1951, at St. John's Lutheran Church of Salisbury. A lifetime member of St. John's, she showed her love for God by being a beacon of light and inspiration to her family and community. Always ahead of her time, Shirley was a pioneer in innovative solutions for healthy childhood development and family care and a lifelong advocate for human rights and education in Salisbury and the Piedmont NC region. She was highly active with Smart Start, Rowan Partnership for Children and spearheaded establishing both the Partners in Learning Child Development and Family Resource Center and the St. John's Child Development Center. She also offered her leadership to Meals on Wheels, Rowan Regional Medical Center, the Paul Lawrence Dunbar Family Resource Center and the Charlotte Area Education Consortium. Shirley received many awards over her lifetime of service. Catawba College honored her with the Swink Prize, the Algernon Sidney Sullivan Award, the O.B. Michael Award, the Distinguished Alumnus Award, an honorary doctorate, the Adrian L. Shuford, Jr. Award, and establishment of the Shirley Peeler Ritchie Academy for Teaching. In sharing the Shuford Award with Raymond, she stated, “I don't feel like we should be rewarded for [doing] something that we love so much, and we do love Catawba.” St. John's Lutheran honored her for her leadership in establishing the St. John's Child Development Center. The Rowan Partnership for Children honored her as the first recipient of the Champion for Young Children Award which is now named for her. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Nancy Peeler Keppel, Rebecca Peeler Parsons, and brother Larry Dixon Peeler. Shirley is survived by her beloved husband, Raymond C. Ritchie; son Cliff and wife Amy, son Mark and wife Jane and daughter Celia Ritchie Jarrett and husband Steve, all of Salisbury; plus grandchildren Joy, Carl, Ben, Laura, Kate and Carrie; and many nieces and nephews. Visitation: The family will receive friends from 5–7 p.m. Sunday (Nov. 22) at St. John's Lutheran Church, in Peeler Hall, 200 W. Innes St., Salisbury. Service: A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday (Nov. 23) at St. John's Lutheran Church, 200 W. Innes St., Salisbury, conducted by Rev. Rhodes Woolly. Memorials: Gifts in lieu of flowers can be made to St. John's Child Development Center, 200 W. Innes St., Salisbury, NC 28144; to Partners in Learning Child Development Center, 2386 Robin Road, Salisbury, NC 28144; and Catawba College, 2300 W. Innes St., Salisbury, NC 28144 Arrangements are being handled by Summersett Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com.