Cecil Houston Ritchie, 64, WZ4V ex N4NLM, of Sweetwater, died Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 14, 2005, at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville.

A native of McMinn County, he was a son of the late Merle Houston and Hazel Moser Ritchie. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Niota and Meridian Sun Lodge No. 50 F&AM. He had been associated with Roberts Brother Motors for the past 38 years, as the parts manager and warranty administrator, and was an avid ham radio operator. He was vice-president of the Monroe Amateur Radio Society and also a member of the McMinn County Amateur Radio Club, Inc. He had served in the Tennessee National Guard.

Survivors include his wife of 42 years, Linda Shope Ritchie of Sweetwater; four daughters and sons-in-law, Pam and Mark Clinton and Crystal and Jimmy Hinkle, all of Athens, Amy and Homer Roberts of Englewood, and Lori and Doug Ruhstaller of Sweetwater; one son and daughter-in-law, Mike and Whitney Ritchie of Sweetwater; 10 grandchildren; one sister, Jodie Ritchie of Athens; and one brother, Darrell Ritchie of Madisonville.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the chapel of Jerry Smith Funeral Home with the Rev. Scott Duckworth officiating. Burial will follow in the Big Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. A Masonic service by Meridian Sun Lodge No. 50 F&AM will be 7:45 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be local Amateur Radio Operators. Honorary pallbearers will be co-workers at Roberts Brother Motors.

The body will be in state at the funeral home after 2 p.m. Friday, where the family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m.

Jerry Smith Funeral Home of Athens, TN is serving the family of Cecil Houston Ritchie.