Donna Marie Ritchie's Obituary
Donna Marie Ritchie (née Salmon), age 93, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, peacefully went home to be with the Lord on Friday, February 20, 2026.
Donna was born on December 4, 1932, in Hutchinson, Kansas, to Ralph Irven Salmon and Mary Lavina Salmon (née Mangels). She was preceded in childhood by three older siblings whom she loved dearly: her brother, Gerald, and her sisters, Dorothy and Vergene.
During her service in the United States Army as a member of the Women’s Army Corps (WAC), Donna met her future husband, William Smith “Bill” Ritchie, who was also serving in the Army. They met while stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas. Their meeting marked the beginning of a lifelong partnership, and they were married just two months later, on February 9, 1952.
Donna was a devoted and loving mother to five children: Dennis, Scott, David, Karen, and Susan. She was also the proud grandmother of 10 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, and is further survived by several nieces and nephews, a brother-in-law, and a daughter-in-law.
A devout Christian, Donna’s deep love for Jesus shaped her life and her parenting. She was intentional in nurturing her children’s faith, instilling in them a strong spiritual foundation.
She found great joy in spending time with her grandchildren, especially playing cards and games around the table, where laughter and friendly competition were always part of the fun. She cherished those moments together and often sang the song “A Bushel and a Peck” to her grandchildren, a sweet expression of the love she had for each of them. Her love extended across generations. We love our Mom, Grandma, and Great-Grandma—a bushel and a peck.
Donna is survived by her son, Rev. William Dennis Ritchie (Carol), and her daughter, Karen Lueck; her grandchildren, David Ritchie (Christy), Jennifer Unruh (Randy), Will Ritchie (Ashley), Erika Ritchie, Joshua Ritchie (Megan), Hailey Hopkins, Tyler Lueck (Valerie), Cory Ritchie (Danielle), Emily Donnelly (Brenden), and Allie Ashworth; her brother-in-law, Don Ritchie; and her daughter-in-law, Susan Hull.
Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Mary Salmon; her husband, Bill Ritchie; her sons, Michael Scott Ritchie and David Allen Ritchie; her daughter, Susan Renee Rector; her daughter-in-law Shari Ritchie; her siblings, Gerald Salmon, Dorothy Hart, and Vergene Zind; and her nieces, Becky Rich and Julie Moore.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 20, 2026, at Asbury Church, Mason Chapel, 6767 South Mingo Road, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74133.
Private interment will take place at Fort Gibson National Cemetery, Fort Gibson, Oklahoma.
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