Daniel Steven Ritchie

DANIEL STEVEN RITCHIE, PVT.-USMC, resident of the Oakland Community and recent graduate of Recruitment Training for the United States Marine Corps at Parris Island, SC, died at Tuesday, October 16, 2007 in a vehicular accident that occurred in Fayette County. He was 19 years of age.

A Celebration of Life Service for Mr. Ritchie was conducted at 1 P.M. Saturday, October 20th at the Piperton Baptist Church with Rev. Brad Banks, officiating. Interment with Full Military Honors took place at 11 A.M., Monday, October 22nd in the West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery at Germantown. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Home-West Chapel.

Mr. Ritchie was born September 11, 1988 in Manchester, CT, the son of Steven Scott Ritchie and Paula Sue Kurowski Ritchie. He was a 2007 graduate of the Rossville Christian Academy where he enjoyed football, basketball and track. A multi-talented person, Mr. Ritchie was an avid reader and historian who enjoyed restoring classic vehicles. An expert rifleman, he was recognized as his Platoon's High Shooter.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by his sister, Jessica Marie Ritchie of Memphis; his paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Craig D. Ritchie of Waterbury, CT and Mr. and Mrs. Jean Rothe of Ellington, CT; his maternal grandparents, John and Martha Kurowski of Manchester, CT; and his maternal great-grandmother, Martha Wohrman of San Diego, CA.

Those honored to serve as casketbearers were A1C Richard Sterling Minor, Jr.-USAF, Pvt. Hugh Rice-USMC, Corey McCrone-US Army, Jonathan Allen, Andrew Johns and Zack Rice.

Honorary casketbearers were Jeffrey G. Chamberlain, G. Sgt.-USMC and Thomas P. Ramey, S. Sgt.-USMC.

A Memorial Fund has been established in Memory of Daniel Ritchie, C/O Paula Ritchie, 85 Briarfield Cove, Oakland, TN 38060.