Rev. Dr. Hoke Henderson Ritchie

Obituary: Kannapolis, NC- Rev. Dr. Hoke Henderson Ritchie, age 94, died Thursday, July 7, 2011 at the Bob & Carolyn Tucker Hospice House, Kannapolis, NC after battling a short serious illness.He was born September 20, 1916 in Rowan County, NC, the son of the late Gilbert Henderson Ritchie and Ila Clemmentine Brown Ritchie. Pastor Ritchie graduated with an A.B. degree from Lenoir-Rhyne College in 1941 and his B.D. degree from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in 1944.Pastor Ritchie was ordained in his home congregation of ST. Paul's Lutheran Church, Salisbury, NC in 1944. During his lifetime of ministry he served the following parishes: Holy Trinity in Mt. Pleasant, NC; Mt. Zion Old, Mt. Pleasant, NC; Watauga County; Daniels in Lincoln County, NC; Grace in Catawba County, NC; Trinity in Rocky Mount, NC; and Grace in Thomasville, NC.He also served in the following offices of the N.C. Synod: Statistician; The Executive Board; the Board of Trustees of the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, SC; the N.C. Homes Board; an elected delegate of the N.C. Synod to four national Lutheran Church Conventions; and a visitor to numerous other conventions of the United Lutheran Church in America and the Lutheran Church in America.Pastor Ritchie retired from active ministry in 1983 and had lived in Concord and Kannapolis, NC. He has served as supply pastor for more than 60 congregations since his retirement. He served as Vice-Pastor and Supply of Cold Water Lutheran Church, Concord, NC from 1985 to 1998 and retired from Kimball Memorial Lutheran Church as visitation pastor in 2009. His volunteer services included: Chaplain Associate at NorthEast Medical Center, Concord, NC and the Senior Citizens Advisory Board at the Kannapolis Y.M.C.A. Always an active participant, he attended local ministerial groups, Lutheran Men in Missions groups, Bible Study groups, spoke at many senior citizens groups, played rook, and traveled at every opportunity. He was bestowed an honorary doctorate degree on May 7, 2005 by Lenoir-Rhyne University. He also received a Certificate of Lifetime Achievement from the Civitan Club.Pastor Ritchie is preceded in death by his 1st wife, Eunice Cook Ritchie in 1986; a son, Hoke H. Ritchie, Jr. in 2011; and a brother, George Ritchie.A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at 6:00 P.M. Sunday, July 10, 2011 at Kimball Memorial Lutheran Church, Kannapolis, NC officiated by Rev. Richard Rhoades. A private graveside service will be held earlier at Center G rove Lutheran Church Cemetery, Kannapolis, NC officiated by Bishop Leonard Bolick and Rev. Richard Rhoades. The family will receive friends in the commons area of the church after the memorial service followed by a reception.Survivors include his 2nd wife, Betty Sechler Ritchie; a son, John D. Ritchie; two daughters, Miriam R. Ault & husband, Richard and Martha I. Ritchie; a granddaughter, Melinda Ault; three brothers, Ray Ritchie, Herman Ritchie, and Jay Ritchie; two sisters, Mary Ritchie Sherrill and Lottie Ritchie Simpson; stepsons, Thomas Ballard & wife, Freda and William Ballard & wife, Vicki; a step-daughter, Robin Ballard, widow of Joseph Ballard; nine step-grandchildren; and one step great-grandchild.Memorials may be made to Kimball Memorial Lutheran Church, Kannapolis, NC, c/o Building & Renovation Fund, 101 Vance Street, Kannapolis, NC 28081 or Hospice & Palliative Care of Cabarrus County, 5003 Hospice Lane, Kannapolis, NC 28081.On-line condolences may be left at www.whitleysfuneralhome.com.
Visitation: The family will receive friends in the Commons area of Kimball Memorial Lutheran Church following the Memorial Service.

Service: Memorial Service 6:00 P.M. Sunday July 10, 2011 Kimball Memorial Lutheran Church

Interment: Private Graveside Service Center Grove Lutheran Church Cemetery Kannapolis, NC