RITTER, Darlene Melba

Silver Creek Mortuary, Taylor, Arizona Darlene Melba Ritter (August 30, 1930 - December 16, 2013) Darlene M Ritter, 83, passed into eternal rest 12/16/13 after a long illness. She was the youngest child of John & Minnie Burkhead(Witt) and was born in CA. She went to grade school there & then the family moved to Grant’s Pass OR, where she attended HS & was in all the school plays & Drama club. Her family returned to S. Calif, where after HS she attended the Pasadena Playhouse & modeled in newspapers. She was in a few “spaghetti” westerns and was in a movie with John Wayne & also Canyon Passage. She met Dick Wammack when she was 21, she fell in love with the WWII Veteran and they married. They wanted to have a family, but decided to adopt. They adopted one daughter, Disa. Darlene was active in Eastern Star & her husband was a Mason. She lost her husband suddenly in 1974 & had to reenter the workforce as a single mom. She worked at Hughes Aircraft for 8 years. 2 years later she met the love of her life, James Ritter Sr. He was a patient man who asked her to marry him 3 times before she said yes. They moved from Hawthorne, CA in 1982 to Taylor, AZ. They were ready to live a country life and leave the big city. They bought their “farmette” where they grew everything Jim could think of to grow and she learned to can. They loved their home & helped build the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Taylor. Jim worked for the Town of Taylor, SUSD#5 and at home fixing every mower he could get his hand on- to his delight, while Darlene learned how to get dirty for the first time in her life. Darlene worked at Highland Primary in Snowflake as the Librarian for almost 15 years. She was a huge lover of books, the arts and music. She loved the kids and sharing her love for reading with them. She would be so happy when an adult would say they recognized her as their old librarian & she helped them to love to read. I think she was most proud of that, besides her grandkids. Even though she was a proper lady, behind closed doors, she had a quick wit & loved to laugh. She enjoyed a practical joke, even if it was on her. Although she never took the $20.00 we offered for her to say, “ Whazzzzzzzzzzzup”, she was willing to put on a silly chicken hat for photos while the rest of the family was on the floor laughing. She loved Mexican food, ice cream & chocolate. She loved baseball and ever got Jim to watch with her. She also loved knitting, soap operas & American Idol. She lost her husband, Jim to cancer in 2000. She spent the next 13 years wishing he were here. They had a love for each other that few people get to witness. Jim would have moved heaven & earth for her & she’s learn about anything for him. They always said I love you to each other & found ways to make the other happy. She is preceded in death by her husband Jim, by both her parents, John & Minnie Burkhead, Sister Lorraine Chapman, Brothers J.B. & George Burkhead & beloved sister in law, Lorretta. She is also preceded in death by nephew Randy Chapman & John Burkhead, and step son, Jerry Ritter. She is survived by one daughter, Disa Gardner of Taylor, Step Son Jim Ritter Jr. ( Bettie) of Show Low, Step Daughter Suzie Ijames ( Steve ) Whiteright, TX & Alice ( Mr.Jim ) TX. She had 15 grandchildren & 28 great grand kids. Funeral services will take place on Saturday December 21, 2013 at 2:00 PM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Centennial Building in Taylor, Arizona with a viewing one hour prior to the service.