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Dr. James Ritter WERNER

FUNERAL HOME

Jackson Lytle Lewis Funeral Home - Yellow Springs

322 West Xenia Ave.

Yellow Springs, Ohio

James WERNER Obituary

WERNER

Dr. James Ritter, formerly of Cincinnati, Ohio, died near his home in Yellow Springs, Ohio, on Sunday from complications due to chronic leukemia. He was 69 years old. Viewing will be held Sunday, January 12, 2014 from 2-6 p.m. at JACKSON LYTLE & LEWIS FUNERAL HOME- 322 Xenia Ave., Yellow Springs, Ohio. Funeral service will be Monday, January 13, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, 63 E. Church St. Xenia, Ohio 45385 with Pastor Lynn Sinnott officiating. Burial to follow at Glen Forest Cemetery, Yellow Springs. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.jacksonlytle.com

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Published by The Cincinnati Enquirer from Jan. 11 to Jan. 13, 2014.

Memories and Condolences
for James WERNER

42 Entries

Robbe Delcamp

January 3, 2025

Hard to believe it has been 11 years. So many memories of him will always be with me. Susan joins me in sending our very best wishes and love to Bonnie and the family.

Todd Wilson

January 3, 2025

Remembering Ritter in these early January days.
His spirit lives on in the hearts and minds of all who had the privilege of knowing him.

January 24, 2014

I just heard about Dr. Werner's death and am very sad that I missed his funeral. I studied organ with Dr. Werner on and off for 8 years at the beginning of my career as a Catholic Music Director. He would tease me because I was so pregnant at one point that I couldn't keep my balance at the organ and fell forward : ) He was an unforgetable mentor and teacher and I still think about the wonderful stories and wisdom he shared with me. I have never met anyone quite like Dr. Werner. I feel very lucky to have known and studied with him.
Victoria Brooker, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Centerville

fredda simpson

January 22, 2014

Your family lived next door to me on Oak street in Ft. Mitchell, Ky. I used to babysit Martha, Sarah and Leah. I am saddened to hear of the passing of this bright light being. I was just thinking of him when a friend told me the news. Your family expanded my horizons and Ritter, in particular, introduced me to an advanced appreciation of music and song. We are all better for having known him.
Fredda Simpson

MARY LAURICELLA

January 16, 2014

SENDING LOVE,PRAYER,&CONDOLENCES TO THE WERNER FAMILY,FRIENDS&ALL WHO KNEW RITTER.I KNEW HIM FROM [email protected] WILL BE MISSED VERY MUCH.

Elisia Getts

January 14, 2014

Ritter was my first choir director when I joined the newly formed children's choir at Blessed Sacrament Church in Ft. Mitchell, KY. I met him once again after I moved to Dayton when he was at Holy Angels. Truly an interesting and talented man.

Todd Wilson

January 13, 2014

Dear Bonnie and family,
Ritter was one of the first people I met when I went to CCM as a young high-school student. His kindness, talent, laughter and wide-ranging interests are things I'll always remember. I can still see him playing the Sweelinck Chromatic Fantasy in Corbett Auditorium. I also remember talking with both of you about your time in Canterbury, which put me on the track of contacting Allan Wicks and having such a fabulous time there.
Ritter said "Make sure to ask him to have the choir sing Stanford Justorum Animae for All Saints." That beautiful piece is appropriate for Ritter now -
The Souls of the righteous are in the hand of God.

My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

January 13, 2014

Losing a loved one is never easy. May the love of God and friends give you solace and peace during your time of great sorrow.

Madelon Kinzig

January 13, 2014

Ritter was a friend, mentor and teacher. I had the privilege to study organ with him, he was the consultant in our quest to purchase a new organ at St. Anthony Church, he accompanied our choir on several occasions, he accompanied me at weddings, funerals and other venues and we collaborated on many other projects, including his premier of his work on Mary Magdalene at the United Theological Seminary. He was such a brilliant man, but more importantly, he had such compassion and kindness. He could be brought to tears in sympathy for someone's situation. He will be truly missed.

Tavner Delcamp

January 13, 2014

I am so sorry to hear about Ritter's passing. When I was growing up in Cincinnati he used to come by our house to visit my oldest brother. They were classmates in the organ department at the College-Conservatory of Music. Ritter was always interesting to listen to. Such enthusiasm about music and, as noted by others here, his laugh was so distinctive! RIP, Ritter.

Robbe Delcamp

January 13, 2014

Dear Bonnie and family:
How sorry we are to have heard this news today. I have so many memories of growing-up with Ritter as a friend, mentor, and colleague. So many hours we spent playing 4-hand piano music together. In those sessions he really taught me how to sight-read. My all time favorite memory is the two weeks we spent, in the summer of 1966, driving through Canada for the International Congress of Organists. I have never forgotten that wonderful trip and the fun, adventures and musical excitement we had.
Please know that Susan and I will have you in our thoughts and prayers today.

Requiem eternam.

Robbe Delcamp

Mary Cummins Wlodarski

January 12, 2014

Working with Ritter at Holy Angels was a joy. He was a good friend to all those he cared about. Eternal rest, old friend.

Bryan Cooper

January 12, 2014

Ritter was a great man. I learned so much from him musically from him while singing in the choir at Corpus Christi. He expanded my knowledge of music by constantly introducing unknown material to me, some of which was quite difficult. Thank you Ritter. I love you and will miss you dearly,

Connie Pester

January 12, 2014

Ritter was my son Andrew's organ teacher when Andrew was only starting high school. Ritter was a huge part of the village that supported Andrew and aided him on his musicological and theological path. I feel privileged and blessed to have shared a few minutes chatting with him after lessons, concerts and services. He was a gracious, kind, loving man with a laugh you could never forget. The world is a greater place for Ritter having shared himself with so many people. He will be greatly missed.

January 12, 2014

Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen.

Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.

Lord, you now have set your servant free*
to go in peace as you have promised;

For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior*
whom you have prepared for all the world
to see:

A light to enlighten the nations,*
and the glory of your people, Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and
will be forever. Amen.

Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.

Godspeed my dearest friend. Pray for us.

Gina Giardina

January 12, 2014

I think my favorite memory of Ritter is when we were sitting in Sarah's kitchen and I was explaining the paper I was writing. The girls were running around, Sarah and Leah were cooking...the house was alive. I asked him about a biblical passage that was alluded to in the book I was analyzing and Ritter took it from there. He spoke about the passage with a grace I'm not sure I have ever witnessed. I feel so blessed to have known this man--although it was for such a short time. His genuine kindness and gentle ways touched my life and for that, I will be forever thankful. My love and prayers go out to the family.

Rosann Patterson

January 11, 2014

I was a neighbor of the Werners in the Five Oaks Neighborhood many years ago. I believe Ritter was one of the first people to make us feel welcome. He was a kind and generous man.
My deepest sympathy,
Rosann Patterson

Connie Siders

January 11, 2014

Ritter was one of a kind. To know him was to love him. He was the organist at Immaculate Conception while I was teaching there. He was a job to be around always laughing and in a great mood. He was great with the kids...teaching them the "church" songs they would need for services. I was the lucky one to have known him and his family. Doubly lucky as I also taught his granddaughter Naomi. Naomi is following in Ritter's footsteps and I know Ritter is so very proud of her. RIP Ritter, you will be missed.

Shawna Haag

January 11, 2014

I was childhood friends with his son Josh and I lived next door to them for many years in Dayton Ohio. I loved the victorian garden in their backyard that he and his wife always tended. James was so very kind and would always take the time to stop and say hello and talk with me while waiting for Josh to come outside. He was a great person. Even though it has been many years I still regard him as a really wonderful person. I send my thoughts and prayers to his family and say that I am sad he is gone but grateful to have known him.

January 10, 2014

May you be encouraged by God's promise of eternal life.

Cheryl Kochendorfer

January 10, 2014

Ritter was such a kind and caring gentleman. I enjoyed his visits and calls to the UD music office. He often spoke to me about the benefits of juicing and was so concerned about a health issue I had. My deepest sympathy to his family.

Jenny Lange Shin

January 10, 2014

Ritter was such a kind and gentle soul. I won't forget when he came to visit my father in the hospital when he was dying, just 2 and a half years ago, and offered kind words of comfort to me. It was so kind of him to think of us at that difficult time. I now hope I can do the same for the Werner family. He was a wonderful person and will be greatly missed.

Ray Ake

January 10, 2014

I am saddened with you. I so enjoyed getting to meet and know him during my time at United. Such a delightful soul. May God's grace hold all and bring peace.

January 10, 2014

condolences to the Werner family. I attended United and sang in United Sound during a time when Ritter was there. Many joys and memories. He is with the angels!

Hank Dahlman

January 10, 2014

Ritter was a beautiful soul and good friend. We will truly miss his talent, his wit, and his eternal optimism. Ritter was a truly spiritual person, and I will treasure memories of our many conversations and collaborations. Making music with Ritter was always a joy, a privilege, and a learning experience. We will feel his loss deeply in the Department of Music at Wright State, and among the community of choral singers in our region.

In paradisum deducant te Angeli:
in tuo adventu suscipiant te Martyres,
et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Ierusalem.
Chorus Angelorum te suscipiat,
et cum Lazaro quondam paupere æternam habeas requiem.

January 10, 2014

May Gods peace be with all of the Werner family. He was such a kind man.
Mary,Mark and Zach Estep

Bryan George

January 10, 2014

I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Werner during my tenure working for Temple Israel. I had just arrived and heard someone going crazy on the pipe organ. Being a Gospel musician, I'm not really the biggest fan of classical music...especially not the pipe organ. But THIS Pipe Organ sounded GOOD. And then, he came into the office...long beard, bow tie & beret. I had the pleasure of a brief conversation, that I still remember to this day...I asked him his favorite key to play in. He answered that his favorite MODE is Dorian. As a Music major, that just excited me to no end. It gives me even greater joy to know that years prior to our meeting, I was taught English at college by his daughter. From this I realized that the kind nature of Dr. Werner clearly emanated to his children. My God...the connections that He allows us to make...such a great man will be missed from this life.

Chad Quick

January 9, 2014

A man that I respected, admired, loved and adored. One of the most faithful, intelligent, contemplative, authentic and loving men I've had the privilege to know. You will be very missed.

Laurie Eloe

January 9, 2014

I worked with many music directors at Immaculate Conception over the years and Ritter was one of the best. He was open to all kinds of music, so easy to work with, always a joy to hold a conversation with, and had a genuinely kind heart. I always felt respected and valued in his presence. What a blessing to reconnect with him at UD this year. I will miss him . . .

January 9, 2014

Ritter Werner was a great man & a fabulous organist who allowed a young, blond-headed boy to sit with him and turn the pages for him at Holy Angels, after communion. While our son, Nick, never played the organ, he did learn music, and now holds an MFA in Sound Design from SCAD. In fact, I believe Nick still has a small (unusable) organ pipe which Ritter once gave young Nick.

We will miss occasionally seeing him on his bike, with his long beard and beret tucked underneath his riding helmet. He was loved by our family and always asked of Nick whenever we ran into him.

He will be missed by everyone who knew him, even as far as Canterbury Cathedral, UK, where he played an organ as a young(er) man. (We visited that cathedral in 2011 at Christmas.)

His spirit will live on in our hearts and minds.

Nikki T

January 9, 2014

Ritter was a wonderful spirit and will add a lovely sound to the communion of saints. I saw him only occasionally at UD, but he always exuded warmth and grace. Peace to him and to his loved ones.

Elizabeth Wagner

January 9, 2014

Dr. Werner was probably the coolest music director we ever had at IC. May he now enjoy the music of God's kingdom.

January 9, 2014

Ritter was a pleasure to meet and talk with evey week. His laugh would sometimes boom down the hall. The breadth of his interests was impressive and entertaining. We will all miss him.
Mike Barnes

Jane Collinsworth

January 9, 2014

Auf wiedersehn, dear friend! Ritter had more knowledge about music in his pinkie finger than I have total! What a wonderful man, full of love of life, of family and of God. Rest in the peace of Christ, Ritter!

Kelly Johnson

January 9, 2014

We will sorely miss his laugh in the Religious Studies department, but what an addition he must be to the heavenly choir.

Christine Dalessio

January 9, 2014

Dr. Werner would stop me in the common room and just chat and ask questions. I had lunch quite randomly in the cafeteria with him one day. He is one of the only professors who just genuinely went out of his way to find out who I am and share life with me, for no reason other than that. He was never one of my teachers, but he had such a good heart. I will miss those encounters!

Amy

January 9, 2014

I was blessed to know Ritter through UD. His spirit is remarkable! My sympathies to his family and friends.

Eva Anderson

January 9, 2014

Such a wonderful man. He will be missed

Anita Wagner

January 9, 2014

Ritter was a gifted musician and it was a privilege to have him as a part of the Holy Angels community. He was so supportive when my father Eldon battled cancer. He will be missed greatly by everyone who's life he touched.

Robin

January 9, 2014

I had the pleasure of knowing Ritter through Loechinger Chiropractic Clinic. I always enjoyed his stories. My thoughts and prayers are with Bonnie and the family

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