Elizabeth C. Ritchie

Elizabeth C. Ritchie, age 94, of Winchester, VA, died Saturday, June 11, 2011 at the Blue Ridge Hospice Residential Center.

Mrs. Ritchie was born in 1917 in Milwaukee, WI, the daughter of the late Burleigh and Letha Craig. Betty was a 1945 graduate of Johns Hopkins University. She was employed by Children’s Hospital in Washington, D.C. Later, she worked for Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, Maryland until her retirement in 1985. Betty will always be remembered as an avid correspondent, bookworm, and Cat fancier, and a dedicated and selflessly supportive wife and mother. She was rarely ill, and lived independently for 35 years after the death of her husband. In 2008, she moved to Berryville, VA where she lived until she had the opportunity to spend her last months in Winchester at her daughter’s residence with her and the care of Blue Ridge Hospice.

She married Henry Rex Ritchie in August, 1945 in Baltimore, MD. Mr. Ritchie preceded her in death in 1976.

Surviving are two children, Diana Tetley of Winchester, VA and Craig Ritchie and his wife, Sharon, also of Winchester; five grandchildren; three great grandchildren, with one on the way, and a sister, Dorothy Horst of Pittsburgh, PA. A son, David Ritchie and a brother, Burleigh Craig, Jr. are deceased.

A Memorial service will be conducted at 10:00 AM on Saturday at Grace Episcopal Church in Berryville, VA, with Father Dwight L. Brown officiating. Interment will be private.

Arrangements are being handled by Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel, in Winchester, VA.

Please view obituaries and tribute wall at www.ompsfuneralhome.com.