Jane (Cress) Ritchie

Jane Carolyn Cress Ritchie, 94, of Kannapolis, NC, died on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at home following several years of declining health.

Jane was born on May 26, 1929, in Baltimore, MD, a daughter of the late Frank Pierce Cress and Jamie Josephine Lee Cress. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 59 years, Ray Monroe Ritchie, Sr. in 2012.

Jane grew up in Salisbury, NC, where she was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church. A 1946 graduate of Boyden High School, she earned her teaching degree from Catawba College in 1950. She began work in the Women’s Department of the YMCA in Kannapolis while living at Mary Ella Hall, where she met Ray. They married on December 20, 1952. Around this time, she began her career in education. Her 25 years of teaching included 5th, 6th, and 7th grades, spending most of her time at Shady Brook Elementary.

Known for her tough but caring teaching methods, Jane was very much a people-person who enjoyed reading the newspaper, sewing and needlework, traveling to new places, throwing a party, wearing a pretty scarf, playing bridge with her friends, and anything chocolate.

Jane and Ray joined Kimball Lutheran Church in Kannapolis in 1953. She was very active in the Women’s Circles, and taught 3rd grade Sunday School until later teaching the ladies of the Friendly Circle Class.

Family members left to cherish her memory are her devoted son, Ray Monroe Ritchie, Jr. of Kannapolis; a daughter, Carolyn Wiley (husband Terry) of Winston-Salem, NC; her sister, Judy Cress Yarbrough of LaGrange, GA; two adored grandchildren, Laura Jane Wiley and Charles Michael Wiley (wife Laura); a brother-in-law, Herman Ritchie; two sisters-in-law, Lottie Ritchie Simpson and Betty Sechler Ritchie; and many cherished nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, August 5th at Kimball Memorial Lutheran Church conducted by the Rev. John Futterer. The family will receive friends in the Church Commons starting at 1:00pm. Burial will follow at Carolina Memorial Park of Concord-Kannapolis.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Kimball Memorial Lutheran Church, 101 Vance Avenue, Kannapolis, NC 28081.

Online condolences may be left at www.whitleysfuneralhome.com.