Alexander Ritchie

TRAVERSE CITY — Alexander "Al" Ritchie, 86, of Traverse City, passed away peacefully Thursday, Aug. 11, 2011, at Munson Medical Center, surrounded by his family. Al was born July 23, 1925, in Newark, N.J., to the late Alexander and Agnes (Cownie) Ritchie. He married the late Mary J. Shields on April 19, 1952. Together they had six children. After Mary's passing in 1990, he later met and married Florella Humphrey on Nov. 21, 2010, in Traverse City.Al honorably served our country in the United States Marine Corps in World War II as a Corporal. Wounded in the line of duty, he returned as an American hero. After his time in service he graduated from Tri State University as a chemical engineer. Post graduation, he worked a Chemical Engineer for Amoco Oil Company. Al was very active in the Traverse City community. He served as a City Commissioner from 1987 to 1991. He was also the mayor in 1990 and was on the board of directors for the Light and Power Company for several years. Al was a former member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and a current member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, the VFW, Elks and the Kiwanis Club. Al loved spending time with his family. Fishing, swimming and boating were amongst their favorite activities. In his earlier years, he was a volunteer for his children's Boy Scout troops and he also enjoyed coaching their Little League and softball teams. Al enjoyed growing roses and sharing them with friends. His many groups of friends were important to him, from the Bay Ridge gift shop, to his men's coffee clubs. His Scottish heritage was very important to him, which he proudly shared with his family. He even went to the homeland a couple of times to visit relatives and see the country. He will be fondly remembered for his quick wit and generosity. Surviving Al are his wife, Flo; children, Barbara (Marty Hughes) Ritchie, of Traverse City, Kevin (Colette) Ritchie, of Florence, Ore., Brian (Sue) Ritchie, of Seattle, Wash., and Maureen (Jerry) Apple, of Lake Leelanau; grandchildren, Nick (fiancée, Annie Bittell) Trahair, Greg Ritchie, Justin Ritchie, Max Hughes, Lydia Ritchie, Kaelyn Hughes and Ben Ritchie; a soon to be great-grandchild; stepchildren, Sandra Newton, of Jackson, Robert (Andrea) Humphrey, of Staunton, Va., and Linda (Dave) Smith, of Traverse City; sister, Mary Ritchie, of Sun City, Calif.; special Scottish cousin, Irene (Robert) Dobie; and several nieces and nephews. Al was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Mary; sons, David and Robert; sisters, Peggy and Ella Ritchie; and step son-in-law, Jerry Newton.Visitation will be held for Al on Monday, Aug. 15, from 3 to 8 p.m., with a 7 p.m. vigil service, at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Tuesday, Aug. 16, at 11 a.m., with a visitation held one hour prior. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Father Fred Foundation. Please sign Al's online guestbook at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com. The family is being served by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home.

Alexander Ritchie

August 11, 2011