Obituary of David Francis Ritter

David Francis Ritter, 67, of Moberly passed away Sunday, March 15, 2015, at his home. He was born October 19, 1947 in St. Charles, MO to Frank and Margaret Sutter Ritter. He attended Auxvasse High School where he met his future wife Vicki Taylor. Dave served in the United States Army from 1966 to 1968 during the Vietnam War. He attended Capital Business College in Jefferson City. In 1970, they were united in marriage at St. Brendan Catholic Church in Mexico, MO. They made their home in Bridgeton, MO where he worked with his brother vegetable farming. In 1973 they moved to Clark and started Ritter’s Fruits and Vegetables. In 1997 the family relocated to Moberly and the business moved with them. Dave was very active at St. Pius X Catholic Church. He visited the homebound and those in nursing homes. Beginning in 1994, he participated in prison ministry and was involved in numerous Residents Encountered Christ weekends. He taught marriage prep and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. In 2002 he was ordained a Permanent Deacon in the Roman Catholic Church. Dave and Vicki liked to travel and their trip to Israel was especially memorable, as well as a road trip they took to Niagara Falls. Dave and Vicki also enjoyed recording radio ads, where Dave would sing in an off-key voice to promote their business. He didn’t consider growing plants work because he loved the earth and growing things. He was an avid St. Louis Cardinal Baseball fan as well as Mizzou Basketball fan. God and family were the most important things to him and he enjoyed a “Blessed Life”. Those preceding him in death are his parents; a sister, Loretta Turner, brother, Lawrence Ritter, a brother- in-law, Chester Turner and a sister-in-law, Theresa Ritter. He is survived by his wife Vicki; children, Lisa Smith (Mike) of Columbia, MO, Paula Covington (Jim) of Belle Plaine, MN, Mark Ritter (Rachael) of Columbia, MO, Debora Christenson (Adam) of Olathe, KS, Adam Ritter (Angela) of Moberly, MO; grandchildren; Jessica, Lindsey, Zachary and Garrett Smith; Michelle, Nicholas, Natalie and Benjamin Covington; Tyler and Megan Ritter; Kaitlin, Trevor, Chloe Christenson; Anthony Ritter; siblings; Robert Ritter (Barb) of Ferguson, MO, Rosemary Ellsworth (Galen) of Savannah, MO, Margie Cobb (Bill) of Montgomery City, MO, Odilia Turner of Greentop, MO and Gerard Ritter (Starlett) of Auxvasse, MO; and many who are blessed to have called him their friend. Mass of Christian Burial for Dave will be Wednesday, March 18, 2015 at 10:30 am at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Moberly followed by interment in St. Mary’s Cemetery with military honors. Visitation will be Tuesday, March 17, 2015 from 3:00 ~ 8:00 p.m. at Pathway Memorial Funeral Home in Moberly, MO. A vigil service will begin at 7:30 p.m. Memorial contributions can be made to St. Pius X Catholic Church, P. O. Box 310, Moberly, MO. Pathway Memorial Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.