Irving F. Ritter

Irving F. Ritter, Jefferson Twp., died Friday evening in the Hospice of the Sacred Heart Inpatient Unit after an illness. His wife was the former Arlene Swingle, who died in 1987.

Born in 1924 in Scranton, he was the son of the late Raymond and Mary Maikranz Ritter. A man of many talents and abilities, Irving worked as a dairy farmer, in building and construction, at Capitol Records, Scranton Baker Supply Co. and founded the Evergreen Mobile Home Park, but his proudest accomplishment was starting and operating the Ritter's Cider Mill on Wimmer's Road with his family in 1978.

Irving could fix anything and loved to hunt and fish. He was always generous and willing to help his family and anyone else with anything they needed. His mind was always working and trying to invent things to make the world a better place. He had a wonderful sense of humor and the uncanny ability to talk to anyone. He loved music and to play the fiddle and harmonica, both of which he taught himself to play by ear.

Surviving are a son, Gary Ritter and wife, Debra, of Jefferson Twp.; granddaughters, Sally Brinkman and husband, Earl; and Jill Metschulat, all of Jefferson Twp.; great-grandsons, Mathew, Eugene and Alex; great-great-granddaughter, Leia; brothers, Carl Ritter and John "Russy" Ritter, both of Jefferson Twp.; numerous nieces and nephews.

He was also preceded in death by sisters, Eleanor Knickerbocker, Dorothy Moore and Marion Kellogg; and brothers, Allen, Elmer and Joseph Ritter.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the James Wilson Funeral Home, 143 Gravity Road, with the Rev. Fred Snyder officiating. Friends may call Wednesday from 4 p.m. until time of service. Spring interment in Salem Cemetery, Hamlin.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Jefferson Twp. Volunteer Ambulance Company, Routes 247 and 348, Jefferson Twp., PA 18436

For directions, to share a memory or to leave your condolences for the family, visit www.jameswilsonfuneralhome.com.