Jerry P. “Pat” Ritchie was born on March 1, 1948, in Poplarville, Mississippi, to parents Robert R. and Patricia Ledford Ritchie. He died on March 1, 2016, at his home in Hermiston, Oregon, on his 68th birthday.
Pat was raised all around the world. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business and law. He entered the United States Army in May of 1965, seeing action in Vietnam. Pat served until his retirement in 2008 as a director at the Umatilla Army Chemical Depot with 38 years of service.
Pat married Perlita Solomon on July 16, 1992, in the Philippines. He enjoyed visiting with people, traveling, scuba diving, new adventures (he would “try anything twice”) and was an avid reader who “liked to fish with no hook and a good book.”
He is survived by his wife: Perlita Ritchie, Hermiston, Ore.; sons Patrick H. Ritchie, Missoula, Mont., and Robert R. Ritchie and wife Dakota, Fairchild, Wash.; daughter Samantha S. Ritchie, Hermiston, Ore.; sister Cynthia J. Melon, Fayetteville, Ark.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Pat was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Gary R. Ritchie; and a sister, Sandra M. Freebern.
A celebration of life service with military honors will be held on Saturday, March 26, 2016, at 1:00 p.m. at the Hermiston Cemetery, Hermiston, Oregon.
Please sign the online guest book at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston, Oregon, is in care of arrangements.
