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Johnnie M. Ritter Dover, FL QCWA # 28714 |
Johnnie M. Ritter Jr. went to be with the Lord on September 23, 2021.
He is survived by his wife Barbara McClellan/Davis/Ritter, daughter Kay Stephenson (Plantation FL), son Karl Ritter/Alyson (Tampa), Step-children Jennifer Endres (Clifton, VA) and Robert Davis/Cheyenne (Temple Terrace), as well as many grandchildren and great grandchildren who will all miss him dearly.
A Tampa native, he was born 5/26/1930. He graduated from Hillsborough High School in 1948. During high school he did 3 years in Army ROTC and made grade of Captain. After a brief stint as a Naval submariner, he went to work for Seaboard Airline Railroad. He continued to work on the railroad for 46+ years before retiring as an engineer with CSX in 1996. Johnnie was a man with many interests. He got his original amateur radio license W4MQB/KR4R in 1947 and worked over 300 countries in Morse Code. In 1989 he was selected as a member of a team to travel to Siberia where they made over 38,000 contacts worldwide. They were the first amateur radio operators (special expedition call sign USOSU) ever permitted to operate from the Soviet Union. Other pursuits included riding motorcycles, flying, sailing, travel, camping, hunting and fishing, gardening, reading, mechanics, and all things to do with WWII. Anything mechanical he loved to tinker with. He always had a joke to share, and he enjoyed handing out his "business cards." He was a member of Tampa Bay Chapter Rare Fruit Council International and the Tampa Bay Beekeepers Association. He attended Open Door Baptist Church in Temple Terrace until moving when he joined First Baptist Church Dover.
He was predeceased by his parents John M. Ritter and Della Mae Johns. Arrangements are being made for a Celebration of Life in early November in their home.
For inquiries and condolences email JMRitter91@gmail.com
Donations should be sent to your church or a charity of your choosing.