Harry E. Ritter, 83

August 03, 2018

Harry E. Ritter, 83, of Lancaster, passed away on August 3, 2018, after a long battle with progressive supranuclear palsy, a degenerative neurological disease. He was born in Muncy, Pa., on March 1, 1935, the son of Luther E. and Lucile Long Ritter. He grew up in Montoursville, Pa., and Oak Ridge, Tenn. After graduating from Montoursville High School in 1953, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1954, serving aboard the destroyer, the U.S.S. Harwood. After he was discharged in 1958, he took his military radio and electronics experience to Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pa., graduating in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering.
He married the former Jeanne M. Brobst on October 22, 1956, at the Immanuel German Lutheran Church, Williamsport, Pa., and celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary last year. They have three sons: Gary A. (husband of Eric Samuelson), of Mechanicsburg, Pa.; Keith B. (husband of Brenda Heaster), of Arlington, Va.; and Robert L., of Pittsburgh, Pa. All three sons followed in their father’s footsteps graduating from Bucknell University. They have three grandchildren, Helen Christine, Emily Marie and Samuel Charles, all of Pittsburgh. They also raised his niece, Lou Ann Baker Wilson (J.C.), of Sun Valley, Nev.
He and his family moved to Lancaster upon graduation from college and began work at the Armstrong Cork Company’s Floor Plant, settling in Manheim Township in 1967. He held many engineering and managerial positions at the Floor Plant, culminating with Superintendent of the Corlon Division. He retired in 1994 after 32 years of service, spending his final years working on special projects at Armstrong Central Engineering.
Harry was elected as a Commissioner of Manheim Township in 2001 and served a four-year term, the last two years as President of the Commission. After retiring from the Commission, he continued to serve the Township on the Civil Service Commission. In 2007, he was honored as the Grand Marshal for the Lancaster County Fireman’s Association Parade, which the Manheim Township Fire Department hosted honoring his long-time support of the County’s many volunteer fire companies.
Harry was an avid, life-long hunter and was a member of the Lancaster County-based, Double M Hunting Club with its cabin in Elimsport, Lycoming County, Pa. He also hunted in North Carolina, West Virginia, Montana, Idaho, and Colorado, even bagging a bull elk while out west. Harry and Jeanne enjoyed travelling and visited each of the fifty states. He maintained a large garden and raised vegetables that he and his wife preserved. He enjoyed wood-working and antique restoration in his spare time. He could and would repair anything at any time. Harry was always ready to assist anyone needing a helping hand. He was a very active parishioner at St. Thomas Episcopal Church for over 50 years and served as a member of the parish’s vestry, working on the buildings and grounds. He also used his love of cooking to help at the church with Alpha dinners and the Shrove Tuesday pancake suppers.
In addition to his wife, his children, his grandchildren and his niece, he is survived by another niece, Lisa Plankenhorn Robinson (Ed) of Normal, Ill., two nieces-in-law, Sharon Brobst Warfel (widow of Mike) of New Cumberland and Bonnie Kinkade Logue (Rick) of Dillsburg and many great and great-grandnieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Alice Jane Baker Plankenhorn.
The family would like to extend their deepest appreciation and thanks to the many members of the medical community who gave Harry such great care through the years of his illness: The Manheim Township Ambulance Association; Drs. Lorin S. Hirsch, Victor F. Altidonna, Jeffrey N. Levin, James E. Harvey and Joel W. Winer; and the staff of Compassus Hospice & Palliative Care including Cassandra and Linda.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the “Jeanne B. Ritter Scholarship Fund” at Bucknell University, 301 Market Street, Suite 2, Lewisburg, PA 17837.
Services will be held at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 301 St. Thomas Rd., Lancaster, PA 17601, at 12 noon on Saturday, August 11. The family will receive visitors at the church prior to the service from 10:30 to 12 noon.