Joe Louis “Pap” Ritchie, 86, of Sardis, Ohio, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at Trinity Medical Center West, Steubenville, Ohio, after fighting a long battle.
 He was born near Sardis on September 5, 1937, a son of the late William Conrad Ritchie and Bertha Virginia Leasure Ritchie.
 Joe was a 1956 graduate of River High School. He served as a cook in the Army National Guard. He delivered milk for a living until being employed at the former Conalco Aluminum Corp., Hannibal, Ohio.
 Joe enjoyed living and working on the family farm where he was born and raised.
 In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife of 47 years, Janet Kay Pittman Ritchie; a daughter, Joetta Virginia Todd; siblings, Anna (Homer) Riggenbach, William “Buddy” (Nora) Ritchie, Carol (Floyd) Busche, Shirley (Marvin) Jowers and Dwight “Bus” Ritchie.
 Surviving are a daughter, Julia Kay (Greg) Bell; one sister, Betty Lou Brown; his precious granddaughters he loved dearly, Kaylea Marie, Faith Elizabeth and Rebecca Lynn Bell; several nieces and nephews and a son-in-law, David Todd.
 Friends will be received at Watters Funeral Home, 37501 State Route 78 West, Woodsfield, Ohio, from 5 – 8 p.m. Sunday, January 7, 2024, and from 10 a.m. until time of funeral services at 11 a.m. Monday, January 8, 2024, with Pastor Travis Mullet and Rev. Charles Leasure officiating. Burial will follow in Locust Grove Cemetery near Sardis.
 Memorial contributions may be made to Antioch Emergency Squad, c/o Nancy Langsdorf, 38371 State Route 800, Sardis, OH 43946 or to Colonial Baptist Church, 201 Gumps Lane, Wintersville, OH 43953.