Walburn Ritchie

A visitation for Walburn will be held on Saturday, October 21, 2017 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at Forest Lawn Funeral Home South, 2401 Southwest 64th Avenue , Davie , Florida 33317. A funeral service will directly follow at 11:00 am at Forest Lawn Funeral Home South.

Wally or Uncle Wally, as most of his loved ones called him, was the 11th child of 16 from Reuben and Kathlean Ritchie of Leinster, St. Mary Jamaica West Indies. His father was a biblical Jacob type, having 12 sons. The difference, Jacob’s 12 sons came from four women, while his father’s sons came from one woman. His parents did not leave their children many material possessions, but the greatest legacy they left them is the knowledge of knowing God.

Walburn obtained his primary education at Job’s Jill Primary School in St. Mary. At age 17 he heard the gospel message and was baptized. He started his talented life in the field of tailoring at age 18 in Richmond, St. Mary. During the apprenticeship he moved to a merchant tailor in Kingston. This was short lived, as before he could master this profession the master tailor died suddenly. This was during World War Two. He quit the profession and started to work at the United States Air Base in Jamaica. During this period he met Sybil Jones and not long after, they got married. He worked at the Base until it closed. He then joined Grace Kennedy Company as a timekeeper and later became a supervisor. While working at Grace Kennedy he started to build houses in his spare time, as many as six.

He was happiest when surrounded by family. His desire was to please God and provide a good life for his wife and children.

After working at Grace for twelve years, he resigned and accepted a job from Lewis Shipping Lines as Production Manager. During this period his wife migrated to the United States, where he eventually joined her in the Bronx, New York. In New York his wife worked at Montefiore Hospital, while he worked at the Y.M.C.A. in Manhattan. While working at the Y.M.C.A. he attended the New York Theological Seminary and The College of New Rochelle obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in Theology, Psychology and Pastoral Counseling. He started in Church Work at the Assembly Hall in Kingston, then on to Maranatha. He then went to Grace Gospel Chapel in New York and finally Bethel Gospel Chapel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

He had a passion for the Word of God and was always willing to share the scriptures with others. He delights in preaching the gospel.

Like the Apostle Paul, who experienced moments of sorrow, but more times of triumph, Walburn was able to say,” For me to live is Christ and to die is gain”. His was a life well lived, a race well run and finished. A fight well fought. Walburn Adolf Ritchie was blessed with over fourscore years to transcend into eternity with his God whom he loved and adored. Uncle Wally is gone, but the beautiful memories of him will linger on. He is survived by sons, Trevor and John. Seven grand and two great grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and friends.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for the Ritchie Family may be shared at:

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