Lasting Memories

Jo Ann Ritter
March 30, 1927-March 23, 2017
Woodside, CA, California

Jo Ann Ritter, of Woodside, California, died peacefully on March 23, 2017, at age 89, after struggling for many years with Alzheimer’s Disease.

She was born to Kathryn Metzger Mabry and Newell Easley Mabry on March 23, 1927, in Vandalia, Illinois. She was raised in Vandalia and from an early age she loved horses and riding, interests that she inherited from her father and which she fostered for the rest of her life.

Jo Ann was a graduate of Stephens College, Columbia, Missouri, and then attended the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. She married Jack B. Ritter, who she had known since sixth grade, on August 16, 1948. Together they lived in Vandalia, Champaign-Urbana, Kalamazoo, Michigan, where they raised their two sons, and for the last 37 years, in Woodside, California.

Jo Ann was utterly and completely devoted to the welfare of her husband and sons and was a tireless, caring, loving and kind wife, mother and grandmother. She was charming, good-natured and had a perpetually positive attitude about life.

She spent many hours over the years sailing with her husband on Lake Michigan and San Francisco Bay, and was a welcoming and generous hostess whether on their boat or at home.

Jo Ann was an accomplished, ardent and prolific photographer, whose favorite subjects were her family members. However, given the frequency of her photo requests, they were not always enthusiastic subjects.

Jo Ann was loved by her relatives and many friends for her kindness, sincerity and sense of humor and will be sorely missed by all who she leaves behind.

She is survived by her husband, Jack B. Ritter, of Woodside, California, her sons Mike (Nancy) of Winnetka, Illinois, Jay (Leslie) of Winnetka, Illinois, her grandchildren, Whitney Hogan (Martin) of Winnetka, Illinois, Kathryn Krebs (Grant) of Chicago, Illinois, Michael Ritter, Elizabeth Ritter, and Christopher Ritter of Chicago, Illinois and Catherine Ritter of Winnetka, Illinois and her great grand child, Clark Hogan of Winnetka, Illinois.

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, June 10th, 2017, at 2:00 pm, at the St. James Lutheran Church, in Vandalia, IL. Donations to the Alzheimer’s Association may be made in her memory.