Obituaries

Martha Jane Leitzell Ritz, Penn State Grad: Obituary

Mother of Colleen Blalock, Louise Ritz, Patty Van Valey, Ray and Steve Ritz.

 Martha Jane (Marty) Leitzell Ritz, 85, passed away peacefully on March 5, 2013 in her residence in Avon Lake from complications of cancer.

Born and raised in Pittsburgh PA, she and her husband were proud graduates of Penn State University, State College. She carried her love of the Nitttany Lions with her throughout her life; her first labrador was named Nittany.

Marty and Ray moved to Fort Lauderdale Florida in 1957 where she raised her five children and worked as a teacher at Nova Middle School until retiring in 1991. She began her next life adventure in Fannin County Georgia on Wilscot Creek in the hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains where she enjoyed gardening, watching football, knitting, sewing, reading and mostly the peace and quiet.  She came to Ohio in 2009 to receive medical care at the Cleveland Clinic and lived with her daughter Patty. Hospice of the Western Reserve provided both comfort and care in her home during her last five months.

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“I watched a lot of television, nothing profound,” she once said. “I’m most proud of my kids. I wouldn’t change a thing.”

She is survived by daughters Louise Ritz (Maryland), Patty Van Valey/Mike and Colleen Blalock/Ray of Avon Lake (Ohio), son Ray (Florida) and her beloved lab companion, Branch.

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She also leaves behind five grandchildren Chris Van Valey (California), Amber Hughart /Nic (California), Casey Blalock (Ohio), Shannon Ritz (Oregon), and Connor Ritz (Ohio). Marty was preceded in death by her husband of 41 years Ray (age 61, 1988) and son Steve (age 49, 2007).

The family will hold a private service in Georgia; she requested “no fuss.”

In lieu of anything for the family, contributions can be made to the charity of your choice.


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