Sam Ritter

On May 5th, 1955, Sam Ritter was born in Enumclaw. On that day he was a week overdue and this began his perpetual lateness.

Sam died at the age of 54 on August 3rd, 2009, prompting his friend Dallas to say, “Sam was gloriously late, but for this he was early.”

He was the third of nine children born to Harvey and Ida Ritter. He was the first born in Enumclaw and graduated from Enumclaw High School in 1973. It was about that time when Sam and some of his friends began the annual “Ocean Party,” an event he never missed.

Sam loved farming, pheasant hunting, and wrestling with the kids in the family. He constantly egged them on with taunts of, “You’re a chicken!”

The kids were always attracted to him so please bring the entire family to his celebration of life on Saturday, August 29th, at 4:00 pm at V-2 Farm, 20613 SE 436th St. SE, Enumclaw, WA. A visitation for those wishing to say goodbye will be held Friday and Saturday, August 14th and 15th, from 4:00 to 8:00 pm at Weeks’ Enumclaw Funeral Home.

Sam’s mother died just a week earlier and he was also preceded in death by his father, Harvey Ritter; brother, Jay Ritter; and nephew, Swen Ritter. He is survived by his sisters, Jerry and her husband George Godley, Cindy and her husband Mike Harvey, Chris Ritter, Penny Ritter, Mary Weigel; brothers, Charles and his wife Sami Ritter, Jim and his wife Kellie Ritter; numerous nieces and nephews; special friend, Theresa Berryhill; and a gazillion friends.

Memorial donations may be made to the Enumclaw Fire and Aid Unit, 1330 Wells Street, Enumclaw, WA 98022. Please sign the on-line guest book at www.weeksfuneralhomes.org.