Frank Douglas Ritchie

Frank Douglass Ritchie passed away peacefully on January 12, 2022, at age 83, surrounded by the love of his family. He is survived by his wife of sixty years, Marilyn, children Pamela Ritchie Borer (Rob), David Ritchie (Jana), Michael Ritchie (Mitzi), and grandchildren Megan, Katherine ("Kate"), Porter and Brandon. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Mary Elizabeth (Ritchie) Taylor. He loved his family fiercely, both immediate and extended, and enjoyed any time he could spend with them. He also believed life was richer when shared with company of his many good friends.

Born in Cleveland, TN, to Jacob Sanford and Mary Louisa (Douglass) Ritchie, Doug spent most of his childhood in South Carolina, where he played football and the clarinet in the marching band. He delivered block ice for work as a teenager and worked as a page in the South Carolina Senate. He attended the University of South Carolina for two years before heading to the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT, where his life would be forever changed. At the academy, he sang with the Idlers, even appearing with them on the Ed Sullivan Show. He discovered his lifelong love of sailing aboard the USCG Tall Ship Eagle, and even marched with the Corps of Cadets in President John F. Kennedy's inaugural parade. He graduated with the class of 1961, earning a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and married the love of his life. Doug was immeasurably proud of his service in the Coast Guard, his fellow classmates and shipmates. He served in the Pacific Northwest and the Bering Sea aboard the Coast Guard Cutters Klamath and Confidence. While he carried out many missions during his time in the Coast Guard, his most rewarding work was search and rescue.

Following his service in the Coast Guard, Doug had a successful career with Union Carbide Corporation as a Regional Sales Manager, which eventually brought him to Atlanta, GA. Retiring in 1997, he enjoyed traveling the world with Marilyn and his family, working in the garden, playing golf, sailing when he could, spending time with family and friends and watching his grandchildren grow and discover their interests and talents.

Doug was a man of strong convictions and a jovial and generous spirit. His faith in God has been evident from his early days. He met Marilyn through the Wesleyan Center in New London (where she was attending Connecticut College), was always an active member of the church, served on boards at several churches and was the Head of Trustees at John's Creek UMC during the building of the current sanctuary.

He will be dearly missed by his family and friends, but his words and values will live on in the lessons and memories we have.

Interment will take place Monday, January 31st, 2022 at 1:00pm at Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, Georgia.

The service will be livestreamed on the church's website.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iZ71jGjwCM&t=52s

For anyone that will attend the service at Georgia National Cemetery please arrive at McDonald and Son Funeral Home at 11:00am on January 31st so that we may line up for the funeral precession.

Condolences may be expressed at www.mcdonaldandson.com.

Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home, 150 Sawnee Drive, Cumming, GA 30040 (770) 886.9899