Joe Rittgers

FAIRBORN -- Joe Franklin Rittgers, 88 of Fairborn, Ohio went home to the Lord on Thursday, December 11, 2014 at St. Leonard’s Rehabilitation Facility, Centerville, Ohio. He was born at home on May 13, 1926 in Columbus, Ohio, the son of Vernon and Edith (Johnson) Rittgers. Joe entered the U.S. Navy at age 17 and retired a Chief Petty Officer with 20 years of military service. He is a World War II and Korean War veteran. Upon his return to the area, Joe worked for Honeywell for a period of time, and then became and retired as a DoD Civil Service employee working on laser bore sights in Wright Labs, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. During his youth, Joe took tap dancing classes and was a member of the Inland Children’s Chorus. He enjoyed basketball in high school, and worked on a dairy farm in the summers. Joe enlisted in the Navy at 17, prior to graduation, but had enough credits earned to obtain his diploma with his class. As part of his naval training, he attended Tufts University for a period of time, and then resumed his Navy career. Joe met Jenny Louise Hrenchir at the USO in Kansas City, Missouri and married her on June 6, 1953 in San Diego, California. Joe was a devoted and loving husband and father of 3 children. He enjoyed laughing with friends and family, fishing, playing pinochle, canasta, and marbles (Aggravation), had a passion for reading, and working with Jenny on craft projects, such as rope horses. He also loved his canine partner in crime, Elf, who lived with him after his stroke in 2007. Joe was a member of Mary, Help of Christians Parish for 51 years, the American Legion, the Fleet Reserve, and a Life Member of the National Rifle Association (NRA). Joe was preceded in death by Jenny, his wife of almost 50 years, and his parents. He is survived by his sister, Roberta (Rittgers) McGriff of Laura, Ohio, and his 3 children, Stephen (Anita) Rittgers (Phoenix, Arizona), Venita Rittgers (Laura, Ohio), and Timothy Rittgers (Germantown, Ohio). He has 6 grandchildren, Christina Rittgers (California), Jonathan Rittenhouse and Anthony Rittenhouse (Virginia), Christine (Gerry) Tarling (Arizona), Danielle (Josh, Sgt/US Army) Sodergren (Texas), and Stephen (goes by Alex) Rittgers (Virginia). Joe has 11 great grandchildren—Elijah, Noah, Micah, Lauren, Danavie, Joselin, Carleigh, Gabriel, Chloe, Gemma, and Cheyenne, many nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews. The family would like to extend their deepest thanks to all those caregivers/ aides, therapists/doctors/nurses who helped Joe since his stroke – you are truly great people. A gathering of family and friends will be held on Monday, December 15, 2014 from 5-7 p.m. at Burcham Jennings Funeral Home, 119 East Main St, Fairborn, Ohio 45324. Mass of Christian burial will be held on Tuesday, December 16, 2014 at 10 a.m. at Mary, Help of Christians Catholic Church, 954 N. Maple Ave, Fairborn. Burial with military honors will be in Byron Cemetery, Fairborn, Ohio.