William Norman Ritchie

William Norman Ritchie passed away at home on March 7, 2022, at Sherwood

Oaks in Cranberry Township, PA.

He was born August 1, 1926, to William & Laura (Bigger) Ritchie in Huntington,

West Virginia.  He is survived by his wife Harriett of 69 ½ yrs., son Bill (Donna),

Daughter Ann DeLille (John), grandchildren: Steven (Demi), Craig (Kim), Bill,

Kevin, Allison, Grant, and a brother Edward who resides in Florida.

Norm served in the Navy from 1948-1952 and he was educated at Penn State,

University of Buffalo, and Albright Colleges in Chemical Engineering.  He was

Employed as Chief Industrial Battery Engineer for Gould National Batteries, KW

Battery in Skokie, IL, and East Penn Manufacturing (DEKA) in Lyons Station, PA.

He also had several patents.

In his spare time, Norm was a member of the Reading Philharmonic Orchestra

where he played the clarinet.  He loved gardening and maintained numerous fruit

trees which produced great crops almost every year.  He was involved in

Christian Service Brigade and Brigade Camp, at Prospect Hts. Baptist Church in

Prospect Hts. IL, and New Life Bible Fellowship in Oley, Pa.  He mentored grade

school – high school boys in the programs for over 40 years.  He was also quite a

tree climber & hiker, and covered parts of the Appalachian Trail with his son,

grandsons, and the Brigade boys teaching them camping and life skills. He played

a mean Harmonica everywhere he went. Arrangements entrusted to Pittsburgh Cremation and Funeral Care.