Eunice Kathryn Ritter of Pinckneyville

Posted May 09, 2017 5:00 am

Eunice Kathryn Ritter, 97, of Pinckneyville passed away peacefully Wednesday, May 3, 2017, in Kenner, La., at the home of her daughter, Dr. Melody Ritter, with whom she had resided intermittently during a three-year period of declining health. Eunice was born Dec. 7, 1919, near Sunfield, a daughter to Major Axum and Elsie Lou (Martel) Revelle. On July 6, 1947, she married Leo Joseph Ritter at the old Nine Mile Baptist Church in rural Du Quoin, and he preceded her in death Dec. 8, 1991. Eunice graduated from Du Quoin Township High School at the young age of 16, due to having been taught to read by her mother, a former teacher, and her older siblings prior to entering Sunfield School. By age 18 she had received the two-year teaching certificate from Southern Illinois University and eagerly took her first job as a teacher during the challenging years of the Great Depression, instructing all eight grades at the historic one-room Roots School in Perry County. Subsequently she taught junior high students at West Park School in Du Quoin. In that era and locality, regulations prohibited her from teaching once she married, so she took her place beside her husband at the Ritter Coal Company (Red Fox Coal) of Du Quoin, and later of Sparta, as the office manager. She returned to teaching at Pinckneyville Grade School District 50, first grade, for some 12 years and completed her own education, graduating with a BA in education from SIU. Later she pursued teaching opportunities at the Anne Fox School in Hanover Park within the Schaumberg School District and finally on the U. S. Army base at Fort Leonard Wood in Waynesville, Mo. Eunice savored and thrived in each varied educational  environment and was totally dedicated to her career, striving to bring out the best in each unique child. Following retirement she was a member of the Retired Teachers of Perry County.  Being a member of "the Greatest Generation" Eunice supported the Second World War effort by working during her summer vacations from school in St. Louis at the large war-effort ordnance plant, where her skill and efficiency for packing  bullets with live munitions garnered her supervisory roles there. She often reflected with nostalgia and pride about taking her place beside the millions of women who labored with love in support of the troops. In recent years, she became a charter member of the National WWII Museum in New Orleans.     Eunice was very involved with the Perry County Jail Museum, which became a site on the National Register of Historic Places. Due to her keen memory of the history of the county and its people and their connections, she was always a valuable resource for those pursuing information about their family roots and the county's historical lore. She had a great talent for storytelling, as was well known by those who would visit her and lose themselves in stimulating conversation! A special passion related to the preservation of the beautiful Old Nine Mile Cemetery, which had become surrounded by coal mining operations and their inherent environmental threats. Always faithful to the memory of her own family buried there as well as other founding ancestors of the modern Nine Mile Church, she served as secretary to that association for many years and forged a productive relationship with the neighboring coal company enterprises. Similarly, she supported the preservation of the Curlee Cemetery of Perry County, north of Tamaroa, and was secretary of that association.  She was a member of First Baptist Church of Pinckneyville, where she taught adult women's Sunday school class and enjoyed supporting funeral events with her coveted homemade pies. During her later years, she was very absorbed with caring for other family members, especially her dear brother "Gene," who passed away when Eunice was 90. Whether called Mother, Mrs. Ritter or Aunt Euny, she was beloved and will be greatly missed. The family expresses special thanks to the tender assistance with in-home care from Holmes Healthcare Services of Harvey, La., especially Ebony Harry, Lettie Lucas and Phyllis Dumas. Survivors include Eunice's daughter, Melody Joy Ritter, MD and husband James Reyburn Douglas Jr., MD PhD of Kenner, La.; many loving nieces and nephews; Leo's children, Leola Rushing (Maurice) of Steeleville and Natalie Rottett of Houston, Texas; and Leo's grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Leo Joseph Ritter; a stepdaughter, Virginia (and Dean) Klingenberg of Pinckneyville; four brothers and their spouses, Howard and Edna Revelle of Lexington, Elmer "Tug"  and Mabel Revelle of Lake Charles, La., Eugene and Vera and later, Kiymet Revelle of Sesser, and Glenn and Louann Revelle of Crossville, Tenn.; two sisters and spouses, Elnora and Frank Shurtz of Sesser and Verda Lou and Todd Stevison of Sesser; and one sister, Evalyn Madge Revelle in infancy. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 12, 2017, at First Baptist Church in Pinckneyville with Dr. Jay Lowder officiating. Interment will be at Mueller Hill Cemetery in Pinckneyville. Friends may call at Pyatt Funeral Home in Pinckneyville from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday and at at the First Baptist Church in Pinckneyville from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday. Memorial donations may be made to either the Nine Mile Cemetery Association or the Perry County Jail Museum Society. For more information or to sign an online guest register please visit www.pyattfuneralhome.com.

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