Margaret Baker Ritchie

Margaret Baker Ritchie, 81, of Drexel, NC died Friday, August 8, 2014. Born in Burke County, NC on December 12, 1932, she was the daughter of the late Millard Savannah Baker and Estelle Lowman Baker. Margaret was a member of Drexel First Baptist Church. In addition to her parents, Margaret was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Odell Ira Ritchie.

She was a 1951 graduate of Drexel High School where she played basketball, was a cheerleader, and was a runner up in the Miss Drexel Pageant. She then attended Queens Business College in Charlotte. She was a retired employee of Western Carolina Center and of Bakers Waste Equipment, Inc. (BWE). Margaret loved to travel and was always eager to give. She was an amazing shopper and promoter of family togetherness. She was her grandchildren’s biggest supporter and fan of their sports activities. She was also an avid supporter and encourager of her husband's positions with the community.

Margaret is survived by her son, Danny P. Ritchie and his wife, Mary Anne, of Drexel, NC; daughters, Kim R. Baker and her husband, Greg, of Drexel and Lisa R. Ramsey and her husband, Brian, of Morganton; grandchildren, Leslie R. Taylor and her husband, Kaleb, Natalie E. Baker, Stephen Ira Ritchie, Bryant R. Baker and his wife, Pamela, Aaron M. Dale, and Madison Ramsey; great-grandchildren, Zane and Zoey Taylor and Ava Ritchie; a brother, Carson Baker and his wife, Carolyn, of Morganton; and a special friend and Hospice volunteer, Teresa Detter.

The funeral will be held at 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 12, 2014 at Drexel First Baptist Church with the Rev. Michael Duncan, Jr. and Chaplain Kim Dowell officiating. Burial will follow in Burke Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the church from 2:00 until 3:00 p.m. prior to the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Drexel First Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 308, Drexel, NC 28619 or to Catawba Regional Hospice, 3975 Robinson Road, Newton, NC 28658.

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.