Obituaries:  Katherine Steele Ritter, Sabine, DeSoto Parish       R-360
Source:  Sabine Index, Many, La., Sep 25, 1991
Submitted by: Carl Dilbeck
              carlrad@earthlink.net




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Katherine Steele Ritter

  Family and friends of Katherine Steele Ritter, gathered at the
Westminster Presbyterian Church in Nacogdoches, Tex., Sept. 15,
1991, for a worship service in memory of her. She died
unexpectedly on Sept. 7, although she has been in failing health
for some time.

  Opening the service, John Steele Ritter played J. S. Bach's
"God's Time is Best", and Schubert's "Ave Maria" on the organ.
The scripture lessons were Psalm 23, and selections from John 14,
and Romans 8. The Rev. James H. Sparks Jr., pastor of
Westminster, delivered the sermon and eulogy, which invoked the
theme "The Lord is Our Shepherd". John played Schubert's
"Serenade", and DeBussy's "Clair de Lune: on the piano, and a
medley of hymns, including "The Lily of the Valley", "In the
Garden", and "Amazing Grace" on the organ. Following the prayers
of Thanksgiving and Intercession, Steele Sharpe read William
Blake's poem "The Lamb". The closing organ piece was Bach's
"Sheep May Safely Graze", which preceded the Benediction from
Numbers 6.

  The graveside services and burial followed in Sunset Memorial
Park in Nacogdoches.

  Katherine Steele Ritter was born in Oxford, La., on Sept. 9,
1913, the sixth and youngest child of John Thomas and Cordelia
Riley Steele. Her grandfather Steele immigrated to this country
from London, England, coming up the Red River to Shreveport with
his parents in 1849. Her mother moved with her parents from
Kentucky to Dallas in a covered wagon in 1894.

  Katherine Steele graduated as valedictorian of her class at
Pelican High School in 1930. She attended Louisiana State Normal
College in Natchitoches, where she was chosen as a member of the
Purple Jacket Honorary Women's Organization, was corresponding
secretary of the Y.W.C.A., and was a Red Cross certified swimmer.

  Following her graduation from college in 1934, with a degree in
business education, she taught for three years in the high school
at Stonewall. In 1937, Katherine Steele married James Carlyle
Ritter, and moved to Many, where their five children were born
and reared.

  Katherine Ritter taught business courses at the Sabine Parish
Trade School from 1954 until she retired in 1965. She spent the
summer of 1959 with her daughters in Fort Collins, Colo., where
she participated in a graduate seminar for vocational teachers,
at Colorado State University.

  In 1981, the Ritters moved to Nacogdoches. Reared as a
Presbyterian, Katherine was a faithful member of Westminster, and
participated in the women's organization of the church. She is
remembered by her children as a talented, hardworking, and
resolute mother, who cared deeply. In her later years, she
enjoyed reminiscing about various activities of her children in
their childhood. Her nine grandchildren were a specials joy to
her, as she watched them grow and develop their talents.

  Katherine Steele Ritter was preceded in death by James Carlyle
Ritter in 1987. Surviving are her son, John Steele Ritter of
Pasadena, Calif.; daughters, Shirley Ritter Sharpe of San
Antonio, Tex., Jane Fay Ritter of Nacogdoches, Carole Ritter
Patrick of Richardson, Tex., and Katherine Ritter Iverson of
Lompoc, Calif.; grandchildren, John Carlyle Sharpe of Boston,
Mass. Thomas Steele, Sharpe of San Antonio, James Gilbert Sharpe
of Boulder, Colo., Katherine Patrick, Frances Patrick, and
Camille Patrick of Richardson, Eric Ritter Iverson, Karl James
Iverson, and Alexander Joseph Iverson of Lompoc; and sister, Fay
Steele Townsend of Shreveport.