John Ritchie

1918 - 2013

John Allen Ritchie



July 12, 1918 - June 7, 2013



John Ritchie died in Mt. Angel on Friday, June 7, 2013 at the age of 94. John was born in and grew up in Salem, the fourth child born to Ethelyn Evans Ritchie and Viron Harvey Ritchie. He graduated from Salem High School in 1936.

Following high school John began taking classes at Willamette University. At the age of 21, he enlisted in the Oregon National Guard, hoping to earn enough money through his service to continue his education. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, however, his unit was mobilized, and John entered the U.S. Army Air Corps.

While stationed in Oklahoma in 1943 for training as a pilot, John married the love of his life, Hilda Rose Speasl, shortly before his overseas deployment. Within weeks of the wedding, he was stationed in England, eventually earning the rank of captain with the 436th Troop Carrier, 80th Squadron. Along with thousands of other Allied troops, he began preparing for the Allied invasion of Europe. John flew a C-47 transport plane on D-Day, dropping paratroopers into German-occupied Normandy. In the chaos of the Allied invasion, his plane was one of the few that actually deployed its troops into the right drop zone, and he was very proud of the fact his outfit didn't lose any men on that day.

During the course of his service in World War II, Captain John Ritchie flew 25 combat missions over France, Holland, Italy and Germany. He amassed 1,536 flying hours, and was always amazed that he somehow was never shot down. He was honorably discharged from the Army Air Corps in December 1945, and served an additional ten years in the U.S. Army Reserve.

John returned to his wife and baby daughter, Constance Mae, in Salem after the war. He went to work for his brother-in-law, Erwin Batterman, as a carpenter, and before long became a foreman for E.E. Batterman Construction. Eventually, John moved to the company office as an estimator, and began bidding jobs for the company. In the early 1970's, he and Al Jensen purchased the company and re-named it Jensen-Ritchie Construction. Among the many major projects John oversaw during the course of his 35-year construction career were McNary High School, McKay High School, Medford High School, Salem Memorial Hospital, Illahee Hills Country Club, Candalaria Elementary, and the Pacific NW Bell building in Salem. He was also a long-time member of the Elks Club, the Kiwanis Club, and Illahee Hills CC, and a supporter of Willamette University.

John retired in 1980, and enjoyed the next two decades with Hilda, as they played golf, traveled to Hawaii and other destinations, took daily walks, and engaged in many family and community activities. Their door was always open, and John and Hilda loved having family and friends come to stay with them. In 1985 they moved from Salem to a home with a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean at Road's End, where they lived until 2000. In 2000 they moved into Mt. Angel Towers, where John lived the rest of his life.

John was preceded in death by his loving wife, Hilda, who passed away in 2002; son, Jerold Scott Ritchie; brother, Clarence Harvey Ritchie; sisters, Viola Fay McCracken, Ruth Marie Roth and Clarice Opal Batterman.

John is survived by his daughter, Connie (Terry) Murphy of Salem; sons, Jack (Linda) Ritchie of Sacramento, California, and Steve (Susan Murray) Ritchie of Silverton. He is also survived by nine grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Mt. Angel Towers Health Center, Willamette Valley Hospice, and dad's long-time caregiver Julie Bulletset. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Willamette Valley Hospice.

A burial service will be held at Restlawn Cemetery at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 13. A memorial gathering will be held at Mt. Angel Towers at 2 p.m. also on Thursday, June 13. Arrangements by Unger Funeral Chapel.