William Ritchie

Resident of Town of LaGrange

January 25, 1928 – March 24,2013

William Ritchie was called up to heaven on Sunday, March 24th. Born in Perth, Scotland, he grew up in Scone and attended Robert Douglas Memorial and Balhousie Boys Schools. At the age of 15, Bill joined the Army where he became a staff sergeant with the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers. At the age of 26, he joined World Trade IBM as a Customer Engineer. In 1963, the family moved to USA on special assignment in Poughkeepsie, NY. In 1970, IBM moved them to Raleigh, NC at the opening of the Raleigh Research Triangle. Bill worked for IBM in the USA until he retired at the age of 59. A true patriot of the USA, Bill naturalized as a citizen in 1995.

Bill was a member of the 1st Presbyterian Church of Pleasant Valley. Bill lived every day of his life to the fullest loving God and his family. He was an avid learner and interested in everything – science, world events, music, literature and history, especially the history of Scotland. Bill spent his days caring for his family, cooking, and gardening as well as wrote his memoirs on his computer and held annual events making memories. He befriended everyone he came in contact with and loved the company of his dearest friends.

He is survived by his loving wife Annie and his daughter Elizabeth Christina Ritchie-Schlytter of Brentwood, CA, his three brothers John, George, and James Ritchie of Scotland and his grandchildren Joseph William and Robert Benjamin Lemings of Billings, OK..

"Love is indestructible

Its holy flame forever burneth

From heaven it came to heaven returneth

Is oft on earth a troubled guest

At times deceived at times opprest

It here is tried and purified

Then hath in heaven its perfect rest

It soweth here with toil and care

But the harvest time of love is there.

This poem was written by Robert Southby.

“So I will sign off as Just William”