A native of Raeford, she graduated from Hoke County High School, and in 1950 received a BA degree in Bible and Social Studies from Flora Macdonald College (now St. Andrews University). At Flora Macdonald, she was president of the Christian Association, May Queen, and selected for Who's Who in American Universities and Colleges. She served as a director of Christian Education in the First Presbyterian Church of Wilson, and in two Presbyteries in the Synod of North Carolina before her marriage in 1954 to the Rev. Stuart A. Ritchie. She supported Stuart in ministry at Presbyterian churches in Fayetteville and Troy, and Amity Presbyterian Church in Charlotte.
As a teacher, she was on the staff of a pre-school in Troy, and a Montessori School in Laurel, Maryland, and after receiving her teacher certification in mathematics at UNCC, taught at two Charlotte junior high schools—Cochrane and Hawthorne. In 1984, she was chosen as Teacher of the Year at Hawthorne.
A former elder and moderator of Presbyterian Women, she received a Life Membership in Presbyterian Women in 2001. In 2018 she was honored by Charlotte Presbytery with a Legacy award, given to senior adults in recognition of outstanding service in church and community.
She served as chief judge for her voting precinct in Cabarrus County for many years. She remained actively involved in other community organizations. She was a member of Alpha Delta Kappa, an honorary sorority for women educators, serving as president for two terms and an executive board member for many years. As coordinator of volunteers for the Harrisburg Public Library since 2010, she was honored by the North Carolina Library Association as Volunteer of the Year in 2013. She volunteered at the Center for Community Transitions for several years, and in 2017 was chosen as Volunteer of the Year. She also supported the Red Cross as a lifelong blood donor.
She was the daughter of H.R. and Sadie Culbreth McLean of Raeford. She is survived by two sons, Mac Ritchie of Trabuco Canyon, California and John and his wife Theresa Ritchie of Frisco, Texas; grandchildren, Courtney, Taylor, Troy Ritchie, Chad (Sydney) Ritchie, and Kayla (Alex) Gary; and two sisters, Mary (Wyatt) Aiken of Morganton, and Hazel Hubbard of Gaffney, South Carolina.
A memorial service will be held at Newell Presbyterian Church on Saturday, December 15, 2018, at 2 p.m. The family will receive friends at the church following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Newell Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 68, Newell, NC 28126, or to Friends of Harrisburg Library (FOHL), 201 Sims Parkway, Harrisburg, NC 28075.
On-line condolences at www.hartsellfh.com.