Russell Holmes Ritchel sr

Russell Holmes Ritchel, Sr., 92, of Winston-Salem, died Saturday, December 13, 2014 at River Landing at Sandy Ridge in Colfax, NC.

Ritchel was born in Bridgeport Connecticut on September 25, 1922 to the late Charles F. and Martha Salsbury Ritchel. In addition to his parents, five brothers and sisters precede him in death. He was a veteran, serving in World War II in the Army Air Corps in Sicily. 461st Air Corps Bombardment Group stationed in Italy. He was an engineer on a b-24 liberator bomber and flew 51 missions over Germany and the heavily defended Ploiesti Oil Fields. Following the war, he married Lillian Alford on October 18, 1946 and they had three children.

He worked for Milford Rivet and Machine Company where he ran the tool room in the Aurora, Illinois plant and eventually became a sales representative for them, being the only person from that company named to Who’s Who of Sales and Marketing. He and Lillian served their church faithfully over the years in roles from working with youth, running summer camps and serving as an elder at First Presbyterian Church of Aurora, Illinois. He will be remembered for his warm personality and constant jokes. He loved his Lord and because of His grace was confident of his eternal home.

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Lillian Alford Ritchel of Winston-Salem, three children, Jill Burda of Shreveport, Louisiana, Keith A. Ritchel of North Aurora, Illinois and Russell, Jr. of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He has eleven grandchildren; Kearsten, Alyssa, Carrie, Jennifer, Jordan, Anthony, Kelly, Timothy, Bryan, Scott and Jaime. He also has twenty great-grandchildren. A nephew, Charles Cooper of Saint Augustine Florida, also survives him.

A memorial service will be held Monday, December 15, 2014 at 2:00 pm at Northwest Baptist Church, 407 Petree Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27106