PERRY – E. Leonard Ritchie, 78, died Thursday, Sept. 6, 2007, at Calais Regional Hospital. Leonard was born Sept. 26, 1928, in Eastport, son of the late Edgar and Marjorie (Leonard) Ritchie. He married Virginia Leighton, Sept. 24, 1949, in Perry. Soon after his marriage, he worked on a sardine carrier. In 1954, he joined the Maine Warden Service, where he worked until his retirement in 1982. Leonard’s love for fishing led him to purchase a lobster boat and spent the next couple of years fishing. In 1984, he was hired as captain of the Grayling for Peacock Canning Co. After several years, Leonard finally retired for good and enjoyed many years of traveling and fishing with his wife. He was a member of the Denny’s River Sportsman Club. In addition to his parents, Leonard was predeceased by a son, retired game warden Michael Ritchie; a grandson, Keith; a great-granddaughter, Olivia; and his faithful canine companion, Buckshot. Surviving are his loving wife of more than 57 years, Virginia; three children, Terri Bishop and her husband, Dick, of Plant City, Fla., Kevin Ritchie and his wife, Cathy, of Lisbon Falls and Mark Ritchie and his wife, Ana Laura, of Houlton; a daughter-in-law, Sandy Ritchie of Smithfield, nine grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews. A celebration of Leonard’s life will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at Perry Elementary School, 1587 U.S. Route 1, Perry, with Pastor Bob Hinton officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations in Leonard’s memory may be made to Maine Warden Service Association, care of Chris Dyer, P.O. Box 27, Morrill, ME 04952. Arrangements by Mays Funeral Home, Calais and Eastport. Friends may pay tribute at www.maysfuneralhome.com
E. LEONARD RITCHIE
