James W. Ritchie
March 25, 2017
Date of Service: April 3, 2017
Inurnment Location: Garden of the Last Supper
James Wayne “Jimmy” Ritchie, age 63, of Elizabethton, passed away Saturday, March 25, 2017 in the Johnson City Medical Center. A native of Carter County, Jimmy was the son of the late Teddy Glen and Selma Bellamy Ritchie.
Although not able to serve in his country’s armed forces, Jimmy was a true patriot at heart. He was an honorary member of the P.O.W and the American Legion Watauga Post #49 where he loved attending meetings with his friends. He was also an avid flag collector. Jimmy was a Vexillogist (the study of flags) and was a member of the North American Vexillological Association. He attended Elizabethton First Church of the Nazarene.
In addition to his parents, Jimmy was preceded in death by a brother, David Ritchie; sisters, Wilma Bennett and Glenita Ritchie; a sister-in-law, Sharon Tolliver Ritchie; brothers-in-law, Ray White and Buddy Bennett; nieces, Heather Ann Ritchie and Amber Lee Ritchie; and nephews, Brian Ritchie and Paul Julian, Jr. He is survived by three brothers, William Glen Ritchie and wife, Joyce, of both FL and OH, Teddy J. Ritchie of Dandridge, TN, and Randy E. Ritchie and wife, Nell, of Austin, TX; three sisters, Patsy Ritchie Depp and husband, Joel, of Louisville, KY, Barbara Carlock and husbanc, Bill, of Aspion, TN, and Linda Ruth White of Elizabethton; a sister-in-law, Jennie Ritchie of Elizabethton; special cousins, Margo Bentley, Marcella Shoun, Larry Gobble, and R.L. Gobble, all of Elizabethton; and special friends, Rhonda Gorley of Kingsport, Lelia Perry of Bluff City, William Carrier of Elizabethton and his many friends at the Elizabethton/Carter County Public Library. Several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, and many additional cousins also survive.
A Celebration of Life service for Jimmy Ritchie will be held at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, April 1, 2017 at the Elizabethton First Church of the Nazarene, 200 W. I St., Elizabethton, with the Rev. Kenley Knight and Mack Presnell officiating. The family will receive friends Saturday at the church from Noon until 2:00 P.M. prior to the service. Private disposition will take place at Happy Valley Memorial Park.
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting our website at www.tribute-services.com. Tribute Funeral and Cremation Services is honored to serve the family of Jimmy Ritchie.
