Wayne B. Ritchey, 89, of Franklin, went home to his Lord and Savior on April 15, 2018 at UPMC North West in Seneca.
Mr. Ritchey was born on September 30, 1928. He was the son of the late Clarence and Eleanor Phenicie Ritchey. On January 27, 1950 he married the former Billie Lee Bevington, who survives. They celebrated their 68th anniversary in January.
Wayne did his apprenticeship and worked as a pressman for sixteen years for General Manifold and Printing Company in Franklin. He then moved to Stockton, California where he worked as a pressman for Atwood Printing Company. Wayne retired from Atwood Printing, now K.P. Graphics, and moved back to Cooperstown where he has resided for over the past twenty-five years.
During his time in California, he was an active member of the Free Methodist Church in Stockton where he had held many offices. While living in Cooperstown, he attended the Cooperstown Evangelistic Tabernacle.
Wayne enjoyed hunting, gardening and making cookies. He was know as “Mr. Cookie” at the UPMC Cancer Center. He knew no strangers and would stop to talk to anyone. He had a great sense of humor. Wayne loved his family and was greatly loved by his wife and family.
In addition to his wife, Wayne is survived by his children: Cinda Lu Pacheco and her husband, Jim, and Yvonne Marie Clarke and her husband, Mark; his grandchildren: Penny Bryan and her husband, Tim; Daniel Pacheco, and his wife, Kelli; Joshua Clarke and his wife, Rachael; and Sean Clarke. Also surviving are his two great grandchildren, Kira Bryan and Emma Bryan, whom he affectionately referred to as his “sweetie pies”. His children and their families reside in Stockton, CA. Wayne and Billie would spend winters in Stockton with family.
Also surviving are his three brothers: Fred Ritchey of Meadville, Merle Ritchey of Franklin and Paul Ritchey of Jackson, OH; his five sisters: Doris Ducasse of Lodi, CA, Betty Gordon of Franklin, Jan Wilson of Volcano, CA, Mary Crowley of Jamestown, NY and Pat Willyoung of Franklin; his two sisters-in-law, Betty Wallace, of Franklin, and Joan Beers, of Holly, MI, as well as a number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Wayne was preceded in death by his mother in law, Viola Bevington, whom he loved dearly, and his three sisters, Ruth Coffey, Jean Keith and Nancy Dietzenberger.
Visitation will be held at the Gardinier Funeral Home, Inc., 1315 Chestnut St., Franklin, on Tuesday, April 24, from 3-7pm. A funeral service will be held, from the funeral home, at 11am on Wednesday with the Rev. Mark Fultz, pastor of the Cooperstown Evangelistic Tabernacle, officiating.
Memorial donations in Mr. Ritchey’s name may be made to the Cooperstown Evangelistic Tabernacle, P.O. Box 176, Cooperstown, Pa 16317.
For more information, directions, or to send a condolence, please visit www.gardinierfuneralhome.com.
