Allen County History & Genealogy

Allen County Obituaries

Norma G. Ruff Alberding Ritchie

Norma G. Ruff Alberding Ritchie, 86, of Cridersville, formerly of Wapakoneta, died at 11:50 a.m. May 2, 2002, in Sharp Hospital, Chula Vista, Calif. She was born Dec. 8, 1915, in Waynesfield, to Dr. Thomas Jefferson and Bessie Mae Bidwell Wells. In May 1941, she married Richard R. Ruff, who preceded her in death. On April 15, 1949, she married Henry "Hank" Alberding, who died April 15, 1984. On Aug. 20, 1987, she married Phillip E. Ritchie, who died Dec. 14, 2001.

Mrs. Ritchie was a retired secretary with Lima City Loan and a member of I Local 724. She was a member of the Waynesfield Baptist Church and was a Sunday school teacher. She was a 1934 graduate of Waynesfield High School and a 1937 graduate of Northwestern School of Commerce. She was a member of the Senior Citizens of Waynesfield. For 12 years, she was on Waynesfield Village Council. She was owner of Norma's Day Care and Hank & Norma's Greenhouse in Waynesfield.

Survivors include a son, Benjamin "Ben" (Yvonne) Ruff of Bonita, Calif.; two daughters, Janet Sue Miehls and Mary Lou (Connie) Alberding Schoonover, both of Lima; two stepsons, Robert (Betty) Alberding of Dunkirk, and Lynn (Judy) Ritchie of Virginia; a stepdaughter, Marian (Tom) Richardson of Cridersville; a sister, Freda (Dean) Graham of Lima; and eight grandchildren, seven stepgrandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and 11 stepgreat-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by two grandchildren, Karen Schoonover and Kelly Schoonover; a son-in-law, David Miehls; three brothers, Russell, Carl and Thomas Wells; and a sister, Ruth Ellicker.

Services will begin at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Bayliff & Son Funeral Home, Cridersville. Burial will be in Willow Branch Cemetery near Waynesfield.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Waynesfield Baptist Church.

SOURCE: Lima News, May 5, 2002