

  <p>Ritchie, Ray Edgar</p>
  <p>Passed: 1968-05-30</p>
  <p>Age: 77</p>


  <p>Source: Ravenswood News</p>

  <p>Death Notice: </p>

  <p>Obituary Date: 1968-06-06</p>
  <p>Information: RAY E. RITCHIE, NOTED LOCAL CITIZEN, PASSES - Funeral services were conducted Sunday at the First Methodist Church for Ray Edgar Ritchie, 77, local contractor and noted citizen, who died Thursday following a long illness.  Burial was in the Ravenswood Cemetery with Masonic rites.  Ritchie was a key figure in bringing Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. to the Ohio Valley and was known throughout the state as ""Mr. Ravenswood"".  Born at Portland, Ohio, he was the son of the late Arthur Clarence and Laura Smith Ritchie.  Holding many executive positions during his lifetime, he was president of Boso & Ritchie, Inc. general contractors since 1938; president of the Jackson County Bank (1945-64); director and vice president of the First Federal Savings and Loan Association (1945-1967); and past president of the Ohio Valley Improvement Association.  Ritchie was also former state president, national director and recently appointed honorary life director of the Associated General Contractors of America; past state director of the W. Va. Chamber of Commerce; the president of the W. Va. Contractors Association (1933-44); and a member of the regional advisory board of the Small Business Administration.  Other distinctions he held include honorary trustee of Morris Harvey College; life member of the Boy Scouts of America; member of the Selective Service Board (1940-1967); served in the W. Va. National Guard; member of the Rent Advisory Board; past president and active member of the Lions Club which awarded him the Achievement Award for being instrumental in bringing Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corp. to Ravenswood; and receiver of the citation for patriotic cooperation from the War Finance Program.  A former West Virginia Senator from 1934-36, Ritchie was also mayor of Ravenswood from 1933-47, a fifteen year term.  During his tenure as mayor, the town acquired its present Community Building, swimming pool and power hours for the town&#39;s electrical power.  Belonging to the Methodist Church, Masonic Lodge, Shrine and Royal Order of Jesters, he was recently listed in Marquis&#39; ""Who&#39;s Who in the East"".  Ritchie is survived by his wife, Pearle; two sisters, Golda Ritchie and Mrs. Virgil Flinn, Ravenswood; one daughter, Mrs. George Lambertson, Basking Ridge, N. J.; one son, Arthur H. Ritchie, Ravenswood; and seven grandchildren.</p>


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