A graveside service was held Tuesday at the San Joaquin Valley National Cemetary in Santa Nella for Robert "Bob" Edward Ritchart, 74, of Modesto. He died Jan. 18, 2009 due to complications following heart surgery.
Salas Brothers Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
Born April10, 1934 in New Lisbon, Wisc., to Robert and Elnora Ritchart, Bob married his high school sweetheart and then served in the Air Force from 1955 to 1959. After service he returned to Wisconsin where he worked for Walker Stainless Equipment until 1967. Motivated to complete his engineering degree, he moved his wife and five children to Madison, Wisc., where he earned his BSME at the University of Wisconsin in 1970. He began his career with General Foods in Kankakee, IL. In 1976 he was offered the opportunity to become site engineer for the new Post cereal plant west of Ceres. He remained at the plant as Engineering Manager and ultimately Plant Manager until his retirement from Kraft Foods in 1996.
He leaves behind his wife of 53 years, Joanne Ritchart; his children, Edward Ritchart of Ft. Wayne, Ind., Mark Ritchart of Murrieta, Thomas Ritchart of Auburn, Susan of Candia, N.H. and Kaye of Waterford; his sister, Jill Walker of New Lisbon, Wisc.; and 13 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by brothers Jack Ritchart and James Ritchart and sister Gretchen Ritchart.
Remembrances may be sent to First Baptist Church in Modesto.
-Ceres (Calif.) Courier /Jan. 28, 2009
Salas Brothers Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
Born April10, 1934 in New Lisbon, Wisc., to Robert and Elnora Ritchart, Bob married his high school sweetheart and then served in the Air Force from 1955 to 1959. After service he returned to Wisconsin where he worked for Walker Stainless Equipment until 1967. Motivated to complete his engineering degree, he moved his wife and five children to Madison, Wisc., where he earned his BSME at the University of Wisconsin in 1970. He began his career with General Foods in Kankakee, IL. In 1976 he was offered the opportunity to become site engineer for the new Post cereal plant west of Ceres. He remained at the plant as Engineering Manager and ultimately Plant Manager until his retirement from Kraft Foods in 1996.
He leaves behind his wife of 53 years, Joanne Ritchart; his children, Edward Ritchart of Ft. Wayne, Ind., Mark Ritchart of Murrieta, Thomas Ritchart of Auburn, Susan of Candia, N.H. and Kaye of Waterford; his sister, Jill Walker of New Lisbon, Wisc.; and 13 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by brothers Jack Ritchart and James Ritchart and sister Gretchen Ritchart.
Remembrances may be sent to First Baptist Church in Modesto.
-Ceres (Calif.) Courier /Jan. 28, 2009
