...WWII Navy Veteran, age 84
TEWKSBURY - David J. Ritchie, age 84, a WWII Navy Veteran died peacefully Monday night, June 11, in Chelmsford. He was born in Malden on August 27, 1927, a son of the late Charles and Alice (Smith) Ritchie. He lived the greater part of his life in Malden before moving to Tewksbury in 1980. During WWII he enlisted in the U.S. Navy by fabricating his age of seventeen to eighteen. Upon his discharge from the Navy he was awarded the Victory medal and the American Theater Ribbon. His first job was hanging signs at Donnolly Sign Co. Soon after he became a well educated engineer. He graduated from Northeastern University with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology. He also graduated from Clarkson where he received his Masters in Engineering Degree. He worked for over 28 years at Western Electric of North Andover now known as AT&T. Before his retirement he worked in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait for five years building communication towers. Once he retired he became a member of the Telephone Pioneers Club and the Woburn Sportsmans Association. He enjoyed fishing in the Merrimack River and the Quabon Reservoir in Western Mass as well as hunting. He is survived by his former wife Joan Frederick Ritchie of Revere, daughter Barbara Ritchie of Woburn, and daughter Donna Gonzalez and her husband Steven of North Reading, two grandchildren Elijah and Ruby Gonzalez. Brother of the late Charles Ritchie.
His graveside funeral service with Military honors was held at the Tewksbury Cemetery on Saturday June 16.