Obit of Ritchie, Dr. Thomas Alexander - Creek County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Shelly Lynch 03 Feb 2008 Return to Creek County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/creek/creek.htm ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ===================================================================== ::Calvary Cemetery--Tulsa OK RITCHIE - Dr. Thomas Alexander, 80, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, October 21, 2007. He was born in Lordsburg, NM to Arbella and Jim Ritchie on July 27, 1927. After serving his country in the navy during WWII he was one of the 26 men who graduated from the first Veterinary Medicine class at Oklahoma A&M *Added info (OSU Stillwater was Originally known as Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College (Oklahoma A&M)) . While at 0SU he was a member of Kappa Alpha Order and president of the Student Government Association. After graduation he married Catherine Bridget Fletcher who has remained his loving wife for 56 years. As the first practicing veterinarian in Creek County he has owned and operated Ritchie Animal Clinic in Sapulpa for 55 years. He and his son, Jimmy have also run R&R Ranch, a working cattle operation in Kiefer for 16 years. Tom and Catherine's vested interest in continuing education led to the development of their annual freshman scholarship fund which they give to a deserving Sapulpa High School Senior. As the devoted father of ten Sapulpa High School graduates he was instrumental in the growth of Sapulpa's athletic programs. Through coaching tennis, basketball and various other sports he touched the lives of many young men who grew to love and respect him. He served as city commissioner in Sapulpa, athletic director of Sacred Heart Catholic School, and was a member of the Jaycees and Kiwanis organizations. He is currently a proud member of Rancheros Visitadores, Sacred Heart Men's Club and the Oklahoma State Alumni Association. His most endearing roles however were as a husband, father and grandfather. With 10 children, 26 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild, his living legacy will be carried on by those he spent his life loving and providing for. He was a man motivated by compassion and committed to the well being of others. He was preceded in death by: his parents, Jim and Arabella; as well as Cecil 'Dave' Wilkins, a loyal and lifelong friend. He is survived by: his devoted wife, Catherine Ritchie; his younger siblings, Mary Kathleen Roggenbuck, James Edward Ritchie, and David Eugene Ritchie; his 10 children Michael, Karen Sontag and husband, John, Pat and wife, Linda, Jimmy and wife, Liz, Kelly and wife, Regina, John and wife, Linda, Tim and wife, Cheri, Tom and wife, Mary, Missy Nicholas and husband, Jerrad, Ryan and wife, Kara; as well as their 26 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. The family would like to express their heart felt appreciation to Dr. Steven Gawey for the care he has provided to Tom for the past 10 years as well as the outstanding and ongoing service of Brenda Malone with Barnes Home Health and Infinity Hospice Care. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Sacred Heart Men's Club, 521 S. Park Sapulpa, OK 74066. Rosary will be 7 p.m., Tuesday October 23, and service 2 p.m., on Wednesday, October 24, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1777 E. Grayson Ave. in Sapulpa. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, on 91st and Harvard, in Tulsa. Fitzgerald Southwood. Published in the Tulsa World on 10/23/2007. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Creek County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/creek/creek.htm