Barbara Carswell Ritchie

Barbara Carswell Ritchie, 72, of Bethlehem, NC and formerly of Drexel, NC passed away Sunday, March 24, 2013 at Wake Forest Baptist Health after a short illness. Barbara was born on January 22, 1941 in Burke County to the late Theodore "Bud" Carswell and Daisy Starnes Carswell. She started her work career at the Alba-Waldensian plant and worked there in data processing until 1976 when she was hired by the Town of Drexel as Utility and Collection Clerk. She was promoted in 1982 to the position of Deputy Clerk, and in 1983 was promoted to the position of Tax Collector which she held until 2001 when she retired after 25 years of service.In 1996, the Drexel Community Club honored her for the many years of service to the community as Citizens of the Year for 1996. Barbara has served as president, vice-president, and secretary of the Drexel Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary. She also worked to promote the town’s annual fair as co-chairwoman of the fair’s floriculture, plants, and flowers exhibit. She was active with the Drexel Garden Club serving as president, vice-president, and recording secretary. In 1989, the Garden Club of North Carolina honored her with a life-time membership. She also served with Drexel’s street festival committee and had previously been active with the Burke County Heart Fund.She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Slayton Ritchie, one son, Clay Ritchie and his wife, Becky of Valdese; two step-grandchildren, Josh Watts of Morganton and Wendy Hicks and her husband, Josh, of Scott Depot, WV; and two step-great-grandchildren.Barbara is also survived by two sisters, Betty Rocket of Valdese and Lynda Davis of Morganton; one brother, Dennis Carswell of Ormond Beach, FL; one sister-in-law, Patsy Ritchie of Morganton; and a number of nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Janice Woodruff of Drexel.Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, March 28, 2013 at Enon Baptist Church with Reverends Gary Garner and Don Smith officiating. Burial will follow at Burke Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday at Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center where the body will remain until placed in the church 30 minutes before the funeral hour.The family wishes to thank the doctors and nurses of Wake Forest Baptist Health for their love and care. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Enon Baptist Church, 2059 Enon Road, Morganton, NC 28655 or to Hospice and Palliative CareCenter, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.The Ritchie family has entrusted funeral arrangements to Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center.