Mary Margaret Clevenger Ritenour, 92, of Peace & Plenty Farm in Stephens City, VA, wife of the late Harry Stickley Ritenour, died peacefully at home surrounded by family on Wednesday, September 28, 2016.
Mrs. Ritenour was born May 24, 1924 in Winchester, VA, the daughter of Frank Archibald and Mamie Byron Ritter Clevenger. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, John William Clevenger and Nelson Ritter Clevenger, sisters, Edna McCauley Clevenger Ritenour and Mildred Virginia Clevenger Shepard, and daughter-in-law, Mary Elizabeth Hunt Ritenour.
She graduated from Stephens City High School on May 25, 1940 at age 16 and was married to Harry Stickley Ritenour on June 15, 1941, in Hagerstown, MD. She was a member of Fairview United Methodist Church, and a past, long-time member of Stephens City United Methodist Church.
First and foremost, Mary was a homemaker. She enjoyed gardening and growing orchids and violets. An excellent seamstress, she made many custom outfits, costumes, and wedding gowns for family and friends. She loved to read and surrounded herself with books of all kinds, and shared her interest in collecting rocks, seashells, and stamps with her children and grandchildren. An excellent cook and baker, Mary loved to celebrate with food at family holiday gatherings where she always had fascinating stories to tell her family. Music was an important part of her life and she instilled the love of music in her children. Mary and Harry took great pride in Peace & Plenty Farm and nurtured the land and animals with care. Mary and Harry “Pete” loved cruising in their 1920 Ford Model T and making people smile. During her lifetime, she worked at Viscose, Farm Bureau, Stephens City School cafeteria, Leggett Department Store, Drift ‘n Browse Health Food Store, and retired from Better Thymes Natural Food Store at age 88. She loved sharing community and church history with everyone, and collected extensive amounts of family genealogy. Her encouragement and inspiration to all who knew her will be missed, along with her bright, twinkling eyes and gracious smile. The passing of this authentic lady and matriarch marks the end of an era.
Surviving are her son Dr. H. Steven Ritenour and wife Sharon Nellis Ritenour; Sandra Rose Ritenour and husband Dr. John H. Milam, Jr.; and Stacci Byron Ritenour, all of Stephens City, VA.
There are eight grandchildren: Stephanie Mame Ritenour; Benjamin Hampton Ritenour and wife Teresa Duvall Ritenour; Nathanael Barrett Hunt Ritenour; Aaron Nicholas Ritenour and wife Jennifer Lee Byrne Ritenour; Catherine Channing Ritenour Hackett and husband Scott Leonard Hackett, all of Stephens City, VA; Jacob Thaller Ritenour and wife Katherine Lynn Heinrich Ritenour of Erie, PA; Laurel Patrisha Milam Gruba and husband John Michael Gruba of Mt. Jackson, VA; and Andrew Forest Milam and wife Erica Puffenberger of Winchester, VA; and two step-grandchildren, Scott Christopher Nellis and wife Mary Searfoss Nellis of New Philadelphia, OH; and Brent Michael Nellis of Stephens City, VA.
There are eighteen great grandchildren: Emily Elizabeth Ritenour Howe and husband, Anthony Howe of San Diego, CA; Elizabeth Ashley Snider of Winchester, VA; Caleb Alexander Ritenour of Winchester, VA; Autumn Rose Ritenour Rodriguez, and husband Christopher Rodriguez of Stephens City, VA; Ryne Lukas Hackett, Jonah Scott Hackett, and Avalynn Rose Hackett of Stephens City, VA; Diella Lynn Ritenour, Ethan Thaller Ritenour, Sayda Elizabeth Ritenour, and Silas Gibson Ritenour of Erie, PA; Owen Stickley Ritenour of Stephens City, VA; step-great grandchildren, Emily Margaret Buhl, and Matthew Thomas Buhl of Winchester, VA; Hillary Frances Buhl of Galax, VA; and Sydney Ann Buhl, of Stephens City, VA; and Lydia May Nellis and Adalynn Grace Nellis of New Philadelphia, OH.
There are two great great grandchildren: Abel Delaire Rodriguez and Lucca Hampton Rodriguez of Stephens City, VA.
She is also survived by many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly.
A celebration of life will be on Sunday, October 2, 2016 at 2:00 PM at Fairview United Methodist Church with the Reverend Laetitia Schoeman officiating.
Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Benjamin H. Ritenour, Nathanael B. H. Ritenour, Aaron N. Ritenour, Jacob T. Ritenour, Andrew F. Milam, and great grandson, Caleb A. Ritenour.
The family will receive friends on Saturday evening, October 1, 2016, from 6:00-9:00 PM at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel.
Interment at Green Hill Cemetery in Stephens City, VA will be private.
Memorial contributions may be made to Fairview United Methodist Church, 968 Double Church Road, Stephens City, VA 22655 or Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 West Cork Street, Suite 405, Winchester, VA 22601.
Please view obituaries and tribute wall at www.ompsfuneralhome.com