Francis J. 'Frank' Ritzert Sr.
Francis J. “Frank” Ritzert Sr., 76, RD2 Chicora died Monday morning at VA Butler Healthcare.
Born April 2, 1935, in Chicora on the family farm, he was a son of the late Florian H. and Della M. (Bowser) Ritzert.
He retired from Castle Rubber in East Butler in 1999, having worked there for more than 45 years. He also farmed at the family farm.
Frank was a lifelong member of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, North Oakland, and also a member of St. Paul Roman Catholic Church in Butler and the American Legion Post 117 in Butler.
A veteran of the Vietnam War, he served with the U.S. Army, where he guarded the tomb of the unknown soldier. He was on the security detail for President Kennedy's inauguration and also for his funeral.
Surviving are his son, Francis J. Ritzert, Jr. of Chicora, and three sisters, Josephine Doerr of Odenton, Md., Theresa Bickel of Hamilton, Ohio, and Donna Neff, and her husband, Gerard, of Chicora.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret L. “Peggy” (Lewis) Ritzert, who he married July 3, 1965, and she died Dec. 13, 1969; six brothers, Charles, James, Harry, Robert, Clarence and Tommy; and four sisters, Florence, Marie, Dorothy and Shirley.
<B>RITZERT —</B> Friends of Francis J. “Frank” Ritzert, who died Monday, Aug. 1, 2011, will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at <B>GEIBEL FUNERAL HOME, </B>201 E. Cunningham St. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, 128 N. McKean St., Butler. The Rev. Steven V. Neff, pastor, will officiate. Burial with military honors will follow in St. Joseph's Cemetery, North Oakland.St. Paul's Catholic Women and Christian Mothers will meet at 9:35 a.m. Saturday at the church to recite the Rosary.Memorial donations may be made to the Butler County Humane Society, 1015 Evans City Road, Renfrew, PA 16053, or to the hospice program of the VA Butler Healthcare, 325 New Castle Road, Butler, PA 16001.
