Rayford "Gene" Ritter

Sadly we report that long-time Colorado and California resident Gene Ritter has passed. Gene was born September 1, 1928, in Ringwood OK to Cecil Ritter and Avis Lovingier and was brother to Russell, Jerry, J.C., Ruth Ann and Dick. The family relocated to Colorado after 1935, and upon his graduation from Sugar City High School in 1946, Gene joined the Navy to catch the end of WWII and then re-enlisted for the Korean War. He moved to Los Angeles when he married Betty Jones in 1949 and was father to three daughters – Gail Panatier, Cathy Daugherty and Diane Ritter. He purchased a family home in 1957 in Covina CA, where he lived until 1977 when he and Betty divorced. After a year with daughter Cathy’s family in Claremont CA, he returned to Colorado in Spring 1979, working with his brother Dick, and then settling in Salida with his mother and brother J.C. Well into his late 70’s, Gene would ski in the morning, play golf at mid-day, and go fishing at sunset. He skied on Monarch Mountain New Year’s Day of his 80th year! In Fall 2011, he returned to Los Angeles and Claremont to live with his daughter Cathy and husband Chuck. Here he became Chuck’s sidekick (and carpool lane companion) as they drove all over Southern California delivering lumber. He enjoyed his daily hot spa dip, reading the LA Times and caring for his Siamese cat – and all his “grands”! Gene died May 10, 2020, after complications from a fall and stroke.

Gene was a talented mechanical engineer who for many years pursued his passion for working out details for new engineering concepts. He was proud of his professional accomplishments, particularly his work on the development of the ATM technology, helicopter spotlight technology and in-flight fueling capabilities for aircraft. Gene remained very close to his three daughters and they will forever be grateful for having him in their lives for such a long, loving time. Gene’s son-in-laws Mark Panatier and Chuck Daugherty, his nine grandchildren, his 12 great-grandchildren and his siblings’ surviving spouses and their children, his nephews and nieces, will miss this gentle soul - his quiet sense of humor and his clear love for them and all of the family, including their friends. His passing means that he has joined his Mom and Dad as well as his five brothers and sister in Heaven’s rocky mountain high location.