John Lester Ritter Jr.

John Lester Ritter, Jr. was born on February 7, 1936 in Baltimore, MD to John Lester Ritter and Helen Lavinia Younger. He grew up in Baltimore and graduated from Towson High School. He attended Hampden-Sydney College in VA where he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity. He then served for two years in the Marine Corps and was honorably discharged as a corporal in March 1959. He moved to Atlanta, and started working for Delta Airlines. He finished his education and graduated from Georgia State University. He continued to work for Delta Airlines as a manager in Accounts Payable. His career with Delta spanned 40 years and retired in 2000. John married Judith Lee Owens in 1968. They just celebrated their 50th Anniversary last October at a family party. John was a devoted member of Rehoboth Presbyterian Church for many years. He served as an Elder and was Treasurer of the church. When Rehoboth closed, he and Judie moved their membership to Shallowford Presbyterian Church where they have been members for the past couple of years.

Tennis was a passion with John and especially the Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association (ALTA). He played for many years in his neighborhood and at a nearby tennis center. He and his wife, Judie, volunteered as vice presidents of the Mixed Doubles League for two years while serving on the ALTA Executive Committee, and John also served on the ALTA Board of Directors as Treasurer. He was a Men’s League Coordinator for season after season, and continued to captain his Senior Men’s team even after his health prohibited him from playing any longer. Another highlight of his tennis career was volunteering at the tennis venue during the 1996 Olympics. He truly loved the sport, ALTA, and the friends he met both on his teams and across the net.

John was predeceased by his parents, John Lester and Helen Younger Ritter, and his sister Doris Ritter Ensminger, her husband, Bill, and their son Roger. He is survived by his wife, Judie, son Chris Ritter Oliver, daughter, Nickie and her husband Marc Hagge, and son, Mark and his wife Kelly. Two grandchildren, Holly Ritter Gordon (Juan, husband) and Zane H. Ritter also survive. John leaves a niece, Leslie Ensminger Pachol (Wayne, husband) and a great-nephew, Andrew Sipes and his family also.

A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, January 16, 2019 at Shallowford Presbyterian Church, 2375 Shallowford Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30345, at 1:00 pm with a reception following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Longleaf Hospice at 2310 Parklake Drive, NE, Suite 325, Atlanta, GA 30345 or the COPD Foundation, 3300 Ponce De Leon Blvd, Coral Gables, FL 33134.