Leroy Russell “Butch” “Tex” Ritter, youngest child of Tex and Ruth Ritter weighing 8 pounds 3 ounces was born 25 October 1948 at the Ponca City Hospital in Ponca City, Oklahoma. Leroy was named after his father’s brothers, Roy and Russell and his mother’s uncle, LeeRoy. “Tex” died 7 December 2022 at Mc Allen, Texas.
He attended grade school at Nowata, Oklahoma and Coffeyville, Kansas. Leroy attended junior high and high school at Coffeyville, Kansas. He graduated from Field Kindley High School May 1966. He graduated from Northern Oklahoma Junior College at Tonkawa, Oklahoma. Leroy received a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in recreation and a minor in psychology in the summer of 1972 from Pittsburg State University at Pittsburg, Kansas.
He married Lu Ann (SOUKUP) COONEY 18 March 1980 at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Jensen Beach, Florida. They were divorced June 1985.
Leroy known as “Tex” by most of his friends was predeceased by his parents, “Tex” and Ruth Ritter and his brother, “Bill” Ritter. He is survived by his sister, Alta Mae (Merle) Frobish; his sister-in-law, Donna Ritter; his nephews, David Frobish and Shawn Ritter; his nieces, Karen (Mark) Lenfestey, Barbara (Tommy) Vaughn, and Chrystal (Jacob) Garrison; his great nephews, Evan Ritter, Garet Houser, and Wyatt Houser; his great nieces, Amanda Lenfestey, Erin Ritter, and Allyson Vaughn.
Leroy was a health physics technician for nuclear power plants. His job was to safeguard the environment, the public in general, and the workers against excess exposure to ionizing radiation. He worked in various locations throughout the country, including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan, Missouri, California, and Ohio. He liked to spend his free time scuba diving, sailing, or snow skiing. And his whole life he was an avid reader.
Originally when he was between jobs, Leroy lived outside of Coffeyville, Kansas next to his parents. After his parents died, he lived with his sister Alta Mae and brother-in-law, Merle Frobish for several years at Valparaiso, Indiana. Then he moved permanently to Mission, Texas where he had two very good friends, Mary Crawford and Judy Hamilton. When he became ill, they supported him as much as was possible.
Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel has been entrusted to care, for “Tex” and assist his family in celebrating his life on Tuesday, December 20, 2022, at 10 am at Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel located at 2405 Woodland Ave., Coffeyville, KS. The family will receive friends on Monday, December 19, 2022, from 6 to 8pm also at the chapel. “Tex” will be laid to rest in Robbins Cemetery, west of Coffeyville following the service. Services will be streamed live under his obituary page at www.fordwulfbrunschapel.com where you may also leave an online condolence or share a memory with the family.
