Dorothy J. Ritchie

DOROTHY J. RITCHIE

Cedar Rapids

Dorothy J. Ritchie, 93, passed away Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022, at Crestview Specialty Care in West Branch.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. The Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Branch is caring for Dorothy's family. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.hendersonbarkerfuneralhome.com. Memorials may be made to DAV (Disabled American Veterans).

Dorothy Josephine Victorine was born Feb. 23, 1928, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the daughter of George and Mary (Werner) Victorine. She was a graduate of Franklin High School in Cedar Rapids and attended Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids. In her early years Dorothy was employed with Allis-Chalmers in Cedar Rapids. On June 22, 1973, she was united in marriage to Ken Ritchie at First United Methodist Church, Iowa City.

She was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church in Cedar Rapids and an avid Iowa Hawkeyes fan, attending football games until age 88. She bowled for many years in various Cedar Rapids leagues, traveling to many national bowling tournaments and belonged to many ladies golf leagues in the Cedar Rapids area. She enjoyed working crossword puzzles every morning and was a member of Mercy Hospital Auxiliary Board in Cedar Rapids. Dorothy and Ken lived in Cedar Rapids for many years, moving to Iowa City in 2008.

Dorothy was an extremely compassionate person and always ready for a good party. Although very petite, she was larger than life with energy and spunk. She was teased about being the "wicked stepmother" but there was not anything wicked about her. She loved her kids like they were her own children and her grandchildren meant the world to her. She had wonderful friends that she loved and they loved her back. Get ready heaven for phrases like "horse feathers" and "do you see the Indian?".

Dorothy is survived by her two daughters, Connie Smith of Mesa, Ariz., and Pam (Mike) Hoogerwerf of Iowa City; four grandchildren, Justin (Maria) Smith of Gilbert, Ariz., Hayley (Laurence) Greatrex of Mesa, Ariz., Whitney (Zach) McCool of Waukee, Iowa, and Trent Hoogerwerf of Jacksonville, Ala., as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Kenneth; son, Craig Ritchie; sisters, Marie Hronik, Rosemary Meeks and Virginia Holsinger; and brothers, George, Charles, Louis, Leroy and James Victorine.