Telling Your Story After the Death of a Loved One Pastor Ron Ritter

Ron was born and raised in Baltimore. He has an MD. a B.S. in Business Administration from Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA. and a B.Th. Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, IL 1970. He was Ordained in the Lutheran Church in Missouri Synod, 30 August 1970. Ron was in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, 1960-1965 and a United States Navy Chaplain, 1974-1970, he retired at the Grade of Commander. He was married to Judith Anne Orendorff, 7 January 1967 and had four children; John, Steven (1970-1987), Timothy and Elizabeth. He currently lives in Fallbrook, CA. Presently serving a Lutheran Church in Hemet, CA. Ron's first significant death (sudden) was his 26-year old brother, Donald (his hero) in 1950 when he was 11 years old. A life altering death (sudden) was his son, Steven (age 16), in 1987 from an automobile accident. Steve's death caused him to focus his pastoral work into the ministry of bereavement. The turning point for him was when the shackles of clinical depression were removed five years after Steve's death when he could focus his full energies into the ministry of bereavement. Ron's favorite scripture is :Psalm 34:18. "God is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."