Virginia Arlene Ritchie

PERRY – Virginia Arlene Ritchie, 82, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, November 15, 2012 at Gardiner Health Care in Houlton. Virginia was born in Portland to Raymond and Helena (Urquart) Leighton on June 6, 1930. She grew up in Perry, attended the local schools and graduated from Shead Memorial High, class of 1948. Virginia married E. Leonard Ritchie in Perry on September 24, 1949. Leonard was the local game warden and as a game warden’s wife, Virginia was known as the “Division Mom”. She loved to prepare meals and take care of the wardens as she always made them feel at home when they’d visit. She also enjoyed tending her gardens but most important to Virginia was time spent with her family. She held several secretarial jobs over the years, mostly in education, including at the Dean’s office at Aroostook State Teacher’s College and with the Lincoln School Department. She also worked at Down East Community Hospital in Machias and later as a rural mail carrier for the Postal Service. In addition to her parents, Virginia was predeceased by her stepfather, Fred Loring; sister, Darlene Stone; brother, Raymond Leighton; great granddaughter, Olivia Ritchie; grandson, Keith Ritchie; son Michael Ritchie and her husband of almost 58 years, E. Leonard Ritchie. Survivors include, her three children, Terri Bishop and her husband Richard of Barefoot Bay, FL, Kevin Ritchie and his wife Cathy of Lisbon Falls and Mark Ritchie and his wife Ana of Houlton; daughter-in-law, Sandy Ritchie of Smithfield; sister, Jan Kinnard and her husband, Tex of Lake Isabella, CA; two brothers, Dale Leighton and his wife Karlene of Gowrie, IA and Robert Leighton of Ohio; 9 grandchildren, Heather, Kelly, Chris, Doug, Brian, Matt, Anabel, Kim and Zach; and 10 great grandchildren. A graveside service will be held 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 24th at Bayview Cemetery in Perry with her grandson, Pastor Brian Ritchie officiating. Services by Mays Funeral Home, Calais & Eastport.