Barbara Jo “Barb” Ritter, 90, passed away March 21, 2024, at Spring Hill Care And Rehabilitation Center, Spring Hill, Kan. She was born April 13, 1933, in Tulsa, Okla. to Charles and Juanita (Baughman) Drake. Barb married Lugene C. “Gene” Ritter Sept. 30, 1951, in Hoisington, Kan. He died March 17, 2002. 

Barb, a Great Bend resident since 2001 coming from Hoisington, was a dedicated employee of The 10th Street Eyecare Center, Great Bend, for many years previously working as a bank teller in Olathe and Yates Center. She was a member of First Christian Church, Great Bend, where she was active in several women’s groups, and enjoyed traveling with Gene following his retirement. Gene and Barb traveled the country visiting family and visiting sites related to her genealogical endeavors. She was considered the family genealogist, spending over 30 years accumulating research regarding the family histories. Above all, Barb enjoyed time spent with loved ones, and from a very early age, was known as the family caregiver. Family was everything to her. 

Survivors include two sons, Ben Ritter and wife Charlene of Oregon City, Ore., and Bob Ritter and wife Teresa of Spring Hill, Kan.; daughter-in-law Karen Ritter (Doug) of Wichita; brother-in-law Dr. Keith Ritter and wife Becky of Hoisington; sister-in-law Mary Drake of Great Bend; eight grandchildren, Aaron (Natalie), Tisha, Ashley (Ahren), Amber (Chris), Natalie, Kathryn, Scott and Emily; eight great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gene (Lugene) Ritter; two sons, Doug (James) and Randy (Randall) Ritter; and three brothers, Chuck (Charles) Drake, Ed (Carl) Drake, and Jimmie Drake. 

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 6, 2024, at First Christian Church in Great Bend, with Rev. William F. Johnson presiding. Interment will follow at Hoisington Cemetery, Hoisington, Kan. Visitation will be Friday, April 5, 2024 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., with the family receiving friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Bryant Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to First Christian Church or to the USD 431 Education Foundation, in care of Bryant Funeral Home, 1425 Patton Rd., Great Bend, KS  67530. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Bryant Funeral Home

1425 Patton Road

Great Bend, KS  67530

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, March 30, 2024