Victor H. Ritter

Mr. Victor H. Ritter, Sr. passed away on May 5, 2010. He was born on July 7, 1919 in Many, Louisiana. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of over 60 years, Nellie Rose Gray; his parents, Georgia Jones and John H. Ritter; and his brother, John F. Ritter, Sr. Mr. Ritter was affiliated in managerial positions with Merritt, Schaefer and Brown, a Hart Marx store, for over forty years. He graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in Business Administration and was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. He was a veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict, where he instructed celestial navigation, radar and bombing. Mr. Ritter was a longtime member of Tarrytown United Methodist Church. He was active during his business life in the Austin Chamber of Commerce, the American Red Cross, the Retail Merchants Association, and was a charter member of the university area Kiwanis Club. He was a Past Master of University Lodge #1190 AF&AM and was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. In the past Mr. Ritter enjoyed deer and bird hunting, fishing on Lake Travis and at Rockport, and reading non-fiction and history. He completed the genealogy of the John Houston Ritter family, his mother's Jones family genealogy and the genealogy for his wife's Roland R. Gray family. Survivors are his sons, Victor H. Ritter, Jr. and wife Ruth of Waleska, Georgia and Robert L. Ritter and wife Carol of Houston, Texas; grandchildren, Rebecca D. Martin and husband Kenton Martin and Ross H. Ritter and wife Margaret Anne Ritter; great-granddaughter, Mary Claire Ritter; sister-in-law, Mrs. Phyllis Ward and husband Mel Ward and their children and grandchildren; nephews, Jack F. Ritter, Jr. and wife Mary and Timothy H. Ritter and their children and grandchildren. For those who wish, in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Scottish Rite Children's Hospital, 2222 Wilborn St, Dallas, TX 75219. Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, May 7th at Austin Memorial Park under the auspices of University Lodge #1190 AF&AM.