James Ritchie Jr.

BR James C. Ritchie Jr., 72, of Alto, NM passed away Saturday, Oct. 27, in Ruidoso. He was born May 5, 1935 in Newport, Rhode Island to Bella and James C. Ritchie Sr. He attended school in Newport, RI, serving in the U.S. Marine Corp from May, 1953 until 1956 during the Korean War. He graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1960 where he played Ole Miss football from 1957 thru 1960. He earned a Master's Degree from Eastern New Mexico University in 1977. He was a retired school teacher having taught for 35 years at various places in the United States including Nob Hill Elementary in Ruidoso from 1975-1976. He moved back to Lincoln County in July 1993 from Las Vegas, Nevada. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Terry Jane Gray Ritchie of Alto; aunt, Rosalind Ferris; cousin, Francis Ferris and family of Newport, RI. The family will have a memorial service at a later date. The family has requested memorials to the American Diabetes Association or the American Heart Association.