Jay C. Ritchie

Jay C. Ritchie 87, of Bristol, IN died June 4.2023 at 11:52 am at Elkhart General Hospital. He was born November 4, 1935, outside Manchester, TN to Lillian Hollandsworth and Calvin Ritchie. His beloved wife, Betsy Ann (Williams) of forty-three years, died August 3, 2008.

He is survived by his sons, Jeffery Jay (Jessica) of Harrisburg, PA and Theodore Matthew of Indianapolis, and his daughter, Elizabeth Ann (Chip) Kauchak of Keller, TX. Jay has five grandchildren, the pride and joy of his life. They are Isaac, Colin, and Everett; as well as two granddaughters Lennox and Kendall Kauchak. Also surviving are siblings Sue (Dennie) Welch, Marie Hosler, and Dale Ritchie. Preceding him in death were his parents and sisters Alene, Dorothy Jean (Simmons), Wilma Faye (Knox), Irene Barrett, brother James David, brother-in-laws Marlan Hosler and Prentice Barrett,

Jay earned a B.S degree in accounting from Ball State University in 1962 and his

M.B.A in 1970 from Michigan State University. He was a certified public accountant and a life member of the American Institute and the Indiana State Society of Certified Public Accountants. Since earning his C.P.A, he loved classes and has kept his license active since he retired near the turn of the century.

Jay served the Elkhart Sheriff's Department as a reserve deputy sheriff for twenty-six years.

He was a licensed Professional Boxing Judge for approximately eight years.

During his high school and college years, he served ten years in the Army National Guard and Army Reserve. During his last full year (1962), he won the competition as the Best Soldier in the 1st Battle Group of the 151st Infantry. One company from that same battle group was formed, activated, sent for airborne and Ranger Training and during its one year of combat (1968), it, Company D of the 151 Infantry Indiana Rangers was the most decorated unit of the United States Army.

Jay always had an interest to keep him occupied. His photography was a real interest. It extended for years and four portraits were published. Woodworking was another interest and extended lathe work and beautiful tables he made for family and friends. Another passion was baking fruit cakes and making hundreds of pans of fudge-a delight he gave to hundreds of recipients-especially college kids.

He and his wife enjoyed a wine club for over forty years and after his wife passed, he left that group for another interest. That interest was the bible, where he always had at least two classes going each week.

For years, he was a member of the Friday Club-a group of retired Miles-Bayer executives whose sole purpose was to perpetuate the company name and memories.

He spent thirty-four years at Miles/Bayer serving in the accounting and Treasury Departments, most recently as Director of International Treasury Operations. His leadership and willingness to take on a new challenge extended to many new responsibilities such as Overhead Value Analysis and the Strategic focus of the company, usually under the instruction of the premier consulting firm of McKinsey & Co. He loved exposure to new projects and thinking.

Visitation for Jay will be from 8 to 10 am Saturday June 10, 2023 at Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, 1531 Cobblestone Blvd., Elkhart, IN 46514 where services will be at 10 am. Pastor Lori Grasty will officiate the service. Burial will follow at Rice Cemetery, Elkhart.

Memorial contributions may be made to the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation, PO Box 8700, Harrisburg, PA 17105, and directed to the UPMC Harrisburg NICU.  Online gifts may be made at www.UPMCpinnaclefoundation.org Online condolences at www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com