Lotte Schwarz Ritter

On Sept 7, 2022 our amazing Mom, Lotte Ritter 86, received her wings after a prolonged illness, proving - as she always said- she was a 'tough German'. She was a kind, giving and gentle spirit loved by family and friends who always put others above herself. She had a quick smile and found such delight in the adventures of her grandkids.

Lotte led a full life, leaving her native homeland of Germany at the age of 23 for a venture of faith to the United States. She was a wonderful storyteller, often telling stories of growing up as a child during WWII and all of her adventures in youth, helping us understand what shaped her as the beautiful human she was.

She was employed in Germany as a seamstress, riding her bike to a nearby town for work. After arriving in America she was employed in several resorts on the New Jersey coast where she learned English and what it meant to live in America (becoming a citizen in 1963). She eventually found herself in Pinehurst, working at the Grey Fox, where she met her future husband, Medford. They had a wonderful marriage and were very devoted to their two children Clay and Shae. They were also very active in the ACOA community and always looked forward to the ACOA retreats at Fort Caswell, NC.

Lotte also derived great pleasure continuing Medfords quest for mapping the Ritter line. Though only related by marriage, she spend countless hours in the archives, took many trips with extended family, and helped orchestrate an annual Ritter reunion in which she made many wonderful friends. It truly gave her purpose after her beloved husband passed.

Lotte retired from Rex Hospital after many years working in the Women and Children department completing birth certificates. She truly loved her work and her colleagues.

In her retirement she loved to garden, sew, was an avid reader, loved to travel with family and friends and spend time with her grandchildren. She loved going home to Germany to see family and friends, organizing the trips around her class reunions. She found such pleasure in her wanderings around her town, stopping in for afternoon coffee and cakes, and sitting around in the evenings telling stories of the past with family.

Lotte was predeceased by her husband, Medford Ritter, and is survived by her brother Richard Schwarz and his wife Lore (Regina and Stephan), sister Margot Kleinbeck and her husband Uli (Oli and Sabrina), son Clay Ritter and his wife Tammy (Carmen Ritter and her fiance Collin, Chelsea Ritter, Chandler Ritter and his wife Welsey (great grandson Russell Ritter), Carrington Ritter), daughter Shae Earles and her husband Tim (granddaughter Emily Earles), and her extended family in Germany.

The family would like to extend a special word of gratitude and thanks to staff at Transitions LifeCare in Raleigh. The staff are a gift from God, who truly have a special calling for the work they do. Our mother was treated with so much kindness and dignity you will be forever in our hearts.

Visitation will be held Saturday Sept 10, 2022 at 5:00 pm Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 1701 East Millbrook Road, Raleigh NC 27609 (formal attire not required).

A graveside service will be held Sept 11, 2022 at 3:00pm at Beulah Hill Baptist Church, 7400 Beulah Hill Church Rd. West End, NC 27376.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Transitions LifeCare, 250 Hospice Circle | Raleigh, NC 27607, transitionslifecare.org/donate.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.brownwynneeastmillbrook.com for the Ritter family.