A Celebration of the life of Kenneth (Ken) Eugene Ritter

Ken was born December 12, 1925 in Gary, Texas. He was the sixth child born to Pink Paul Ritter and Maude Childress Ritter. Ken had three sisters – Bessie Mae, Marguerite, and Ida Bea. He also had three brothers – Rudolph, William (Billy), and Pink Paul Jr. (Junior).
Ken graduated from Gary High School and enlisted in the United States Army in 1944. He served in the 75th Infantry during World War II. He was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action and the Combat Infantry Badge.

Once the war was over, Ken came back to Texas and attended Texas A&M University, graduating in 1950. He went to work for the Shell Oil Company in the research division and retired there after 37 years of service.
Ken met the love of his life, Dorothy Lemke, in February 1957. They were married later that year on October 5, 1957 in Baytown, Texas. They lived in Pasadena, Texas where their three children – Kenneth Eugene Jr. (Gene), Lisa Ann, and Carol Denise were born.
Ken, Dorothy, and the kids attended Richey Street Baptist Churn in Pasadena, where Ken served in many positions including Chairman of the Deacons, Sunday School Teacher, and Director.

The family moved to Spring, Texas in June of 1975 and joined Spring Baptist Church that summer.
Ken served in many roles in his almost 45 years at Spring Baptist Church including Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, and Senior Adult Minister.
Ken was not a wealthy man in the traditional sense, but he was truly a wealthy man in a spiritual way. Ken was and is loved, revered, and respected by the many people that have been blessed to know him.
Ken was quite a storyteller. Whether in a Sunday School class or on a retreat or just simply visiting with family, Ken told many stories of life growing up in Panola County in East Texas or his time in Europe during and after WW2 or his time at his beloved Texas A&M.
In addition to his devotion to God and family, Ken was also a huge sports fan. He was a fan of all the Houston sports teams, but his true love was Aggie football. Dorothy even mentioned that their wedding had to be timed around an Aggie football game.

On Sunday, November 24, 2019, Ken embarked on one more grand adventure; he joined the Lord in Heaven.
Ken is survived by wife of 62 years, Dorothy. Their three children, Gene and his wife Barbara Ritter, Lisa and her husband, Dean Taylor, and Carol and her husband, Matt Scandale. Ken and Dorothy have 6 grandchildren, Morgan (husband, Kevin), Chris (wife, Ashley), Steven, Jocelyn, Michael, and Emily. They also have one great grandchild, Rose and second one due in a few months. Ken has many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews that know him simply as "Uncle Ken."
Ken was preceded in death by his parents and siblings.

1 Corinthians 13 is known as the Love chapter in the Bible. From verses 4-7: Love is patient, Love is kind. Love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful. It does not rejoice at wrongdoing; but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things. This is Ken Ritter to all that knew him.
Happy Trails Ken, till we meet again.

Funeral service will be held at 10:00 am Monday, December 2, 2019 at Spring Baptist Church 1027 Spring Cypress Road in Spring, Texas 77373, with a time for visitation from 9:00am until 10:00am in foyer of the church.  He will be buried with military honors at 1:15pm at the Houston National Cemetery in Houston.