William Edward Ritchie

 William Edward Ritchie at the age of 82 passed away on July 15, 2026. He is leaving behind a lifetime of memories, adventures, and stories that will be cherished by all who knew him.

Born on September 1, 1943, in Paducah, Kentucky, William was the son of Clarence and Wanita Ritchie. He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings.

William is survived by his daughters, Debrah Caperton (Clay) of Texas, Cheryl Johnson (Matt) of New Mexico, and Denise Wynne (John) of Missouri. He was a proud grandfather to eight grandchildren and great-grandfather to five great-grandchildren, all of whom brought him tremendous joy.

William lived life with remarkable energy, enthusiasm, curiosity and embraced life wholeheartedly. He was never one to sit on the sidelines. Whatever he pursued, he did with complete dedication—giving not just 100%, but 150%. Whether he was climbing mountains, windsurfing, piloting hot air balloons, riding bicycles, playing pickleball, tennis, golf, bowling, volleyball, or trying something entirely new, he approached every challenge with enthusiasm, determination, and a sense of adventure. If William was involved in something, he wasn't just interested—he was all in.

His curiosity and entrepreneurial spirit led him down many different paths throughout his life. Over the years, he bred and sold tropical fish, raised cockatoos, operated a gas station, worked in television repair, owned and operated hot air balloons with bungee jumping excursions, and pursued many other ventures. His passion for learning, creating, and building never waned. William had a gift for seeing possibilities where others saw obstacles, and he was always eager to learn, build, create, and share his ideas.

William proudly served his country in the United States Air Force and served his community as a police officer. He was an engineer, entrepreneur, manager, and lifelong problem-solver. As an engineer, he spent time with Texas Instruments before spending the majority of his professional life with Hewlett-Packard. During those years, he formed personal friendships with company founders Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard. Yet despite his accomplishments and titles, William's favorite place was never behind a desk. He loved being "on the line," working alongside people, solving problems, and staying involved in the work itself.

More than anything, William loved helping others. He was generous with his time, his talents, and his wisdom. His family could always count on him for advice, support, encouragement, or a helping hand. He taught by example—showing those around him the value of hard work, perseverance, curiosity, and living life to its fullest. William lived a full, adventurous, and extraordinary life. His stories, accomplishments, work ethics, and

love for his family will be remembered for generations. Though he will be deeply missed, those who loved him find comfort in knowing that he lived exactly as he wanted—with passion, purpose, and a spirit that never stopped exploring.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of William Edward Ritchie, please visit our floral store.