To request a copy of this photo for your own personal use, please contact our state coordinator. If you are not a family member or the original photographer — please refrain from copying or distributing this photo to other websites.
Thank you for visiting the Arkansas Gravestone Photo Project. On this site you can upload gravestone photos, locate ancestors and perform genealogy research. If you have a relative buried in Arkansas, we encourage you to upload a digital image using our Submit a Photo page. Contributing to this genealogy archive helps family historians and genealogy researchers locate their relatives and complete their family tree.
Submitted: 1/16/21 • Approved: 1/17/21 • Last Updated: 1/20/21 • R1360427-G1360426-S3
Jerome
1912 - 2000
Mildred
1918 - 2017
*Obituary
Mildred Genevieve Ritz, 98, passed to Eternal Life at 6:15 p.m. January 28, 2017, while a resident at Delmar Gardens in O’Fallon, Missouri. Born in Newton, Illinois on December 30, 1918, she was the youngest child of William and Dora Staley six children, she was preceded in death by her siblings: Edgar, Freda, Dorothy, Agnes and Ruth.
Mildred and Jerome Ritz were married on April 7, 1937, a union that lasted nearly 63 years until Jerome preceded her in death in 2000. They were blessed with four children: Larry (Janet) Ritz of Texas, Shelia (Lee) Chapple of Missouri, Linda (Carl Gilman) Ritz of California and Rick (Kathy) Ritz of Illinois. In addition to her children Mildred is survived by eight grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.
For most of their married life, Mildred and Jerome worked side-by-side on their farm near Dwight, Illinois. They retired in 1975 and moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas. In 2003, Mildred moved to the St. Louis, Missouri area due to health concerns.
Once the “prettiest baby of Jasper County Illinois”, Mildred grew up to love her Arkansas wine and enjoyed many years as an avid bowler, winning several awards and tournaments and averaging 185 in her early 60’s. There was always a collection of chickens of many forms ranging from a wall tapestry, dishes, blankets, porcelain and others; everything in her house was “chicken.” Mildred also dearly loved Chicago Cubs Baseball, and was able to celebrate their World Series Win after waiting her entire lifetime! She also enjoyed playing Euchre with friends and family whenever she could.
As a devout and religious woman the family suggests memorials in Mildred’s name be made, in lieu of flowers, to Marianist Missions or Catholic Charities.
Memorials be made to the Marianist Mission or Catholic Charities.
Photo courtesy of Wayne Shaw
Contributed on 1/16/21 by hawkinsdonna48
Email This Contributor
Suggest a Correction
Record #: 1360427
Location/GPS: View Map