Edwin & Joye Ritchie

Joye Mae Ritchie (November 25, 1928 - January 18, 2019)

Edwin Franklin Ritchie (October 17, 1928 - August 12, 2020)

Joye Mae Rich was born November 25, 1928 in Newton County, Arkansas to Harvey B. Rich and Della J. (Smith) Rich.  Her family moved to Stilwell, Oklahoma, where her father purchased a farm.   Joye graduated from Stillwell High School.

Edwin Franklin Ritchie was born October 17, 1928 in Piney, Oklahoma to Lee Ritchie and Eudora Ann (Adair) Ritchie.  Lee died in 1934, and Ed and his family lived with his grandfather, Frank Adair, who served as an Oklahoma legislator and sheriff of Adair County.  Ed graduated from Stilwell High School.

In the late 1940s, Ed began traveling west to Oregon and California to work.  Ed and Joye married in 1950.  They moved west to Klamath Falls.  Ed and Joye’s family grew to include four children: Susanne Wicks (Ron), Michael Ritchie (Sally), Deborah Fairchild (Gary), and Barbara McKibben (Scott).

Ed spent most of his working life as a truck driver.  He became owner-operator of his own log truck.  Joye kept the accounts for their family business.  Joye was an active member of the Klamath Falls civic community.  She served in leadership roles in the PTA.  Joye and Ed were active in the county Democratic Party.

Ed and Joye enjoyed visiting relatives in Oklahoma, Ford vehicles, country music, and long drives along the back roads of the Klamath Basin.

Ed and Joye are survived by Ed’s sister, Dolores Milton; Joye’s brother, Oren Rich; their children, eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.  The family thanks Rosie and Fred Padilla of Rosie’s Adult Care for their care of both Joye and Ed.

Remembrances to Klamath Falls Meals on Wheels.