A tribute to Cecil Ritchie, WZ4V, SK
September 14th, 2005

NOTE: The Monroe Amateur Radio Club now holds the WZ4V call sign in memory of Cecil.
Their website is at http://www.wz4v.com .


NOTE: You will notice in some pictures, Cecil had the call of N4NLM on his cap.
His good friend Lynn McConkey, ex-WA4JTD now holds that call.


73 my friend!

       













   









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.

Our friend has left but will never be forgotten!