Norman William Ritcher, 87, of Festus died Sept. 28, 2014, at Fountainbleau Nursing Center in Festus. Mr. Ritcher was an industrial mechanic for the Kroger bakery in St. Louis. Born Oct. 28, 1926, in De Soto, he was the son of the late Myrtle Marie (Mann) and William George Clark Ritcher.
He is survived by his wife: Imelda “Millie” (Smith) Ritcher of Festus; five sons: Bill Ritcher of Festus, Pete (Kay) Ritcher of Atlanta, Ga., John (Denise) Ritcher of Chesterfield, Michael (Donna) Chatfield of Festus and Dennis Chatfield of Las Vegas, Nev.; two daughters: Andra Dorlac of Crystal City and Theresa Carr of Las Vegas; a daughter-in-law: Theresa Ritcher of Bonne Terre; a brother-in-law: Joe Pratte of Hickory, N.C.; 16 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his first wife: Elsie Mae (Basler) Ritcher; a son: Ronnie Ritcher; and two sisters: Wilma (the late Donald) Dixon and Emma Lou Pratte.
Mr. Ritcher chose to donate his body to the Washington University School of Medicine. Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home in Festus.