William O. "Tex" Ritter, 86, of Lothian, MD and a former longtime resident of Bethesda, MD, passed away February 14, 2011 at the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home in Charlotte Hall, MD. Tex was born January 17, 1925 in Nashville, Tennessee to Herman S. and Nona L. (Marles) Ritter.

He was raised in Nashville and graduated from Hillsboro High School. He attended the Georgia School of Technology (now known as the Georgia Institute of Technology or Georgia Tech) where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering. While at Georgia Tech he was a quarterback for the Yellow Jackets and played in the Orange and Sugar Bowls. He also played basketball and golf at Tech.

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy while at Tech and was commissioned as an Ensign in 1946. He was qualified in naval aircraft catapult and arresting gear equipment, and received the American Area WWII Victory Medal. Upon his graduation from Tech and discharge from the Navy, Tex was drafted by the Washington Redskins and played one year with the Philadelphia Eagles. He later worked in insurance sales and was a sales manager for an Oldsmobile dealership in Washington, D.C. He worked as an aeronautical engineer with Lockheed from 1956-1961 at various locations throughout the U.S., and later worked in aircraft sales at North American Aviation in the Washington, D.C. area.

In 1971 Tex opened Ritter Datsun automobile dealership in Waldorf, MD which he operated for several years and owned for over 20 years. He later owned Ritter Chevrolet in Mechanicsville, MD.

In the mid 1970's Tex began a successful career as a well known lobbyist in the defense industry in Washington, D.C. Tex was a member of numerous clubs and organizations, including Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, MD, Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase, MD, Burning Tree Country Club in Bethesda, the Annapolis Yacht Club and the Capitol Hill Club He was one of the original Old Masters, a member of the Gridiron Club in Washington, D.C., and the Military Order of the Carabao, a social club consisting of members of the U.S. military.

Tex had a lifelong love of singing and had performed for seven different Presidents of the United States. In his leisure time Tex enjoyed playing golf, riding his lawn tractor cutting grass, traveling extensively throughout the U.S. and abroad, and ocean cruises.

Tex was preceded in death by his wife Betty B. and brother Gerald Ritter.

He is survived by his four children and their spouses, William E. and Betty Ritter of Mechanicsville, MD, Rodney B. and Lisa Ritter of Port Republic, MD, Robert D. and Kristy Ritter of Orlando, FL and Deborah C. and Alan Fluke of Raleigh, NC. He is also survived by his devoted companion of 25 years Deloras Ward and by her daughters Wanda W. DeBord and her husband Michael and Wendy A. Cator and her husband Larry, all of Lothian, MD, and by 16 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Arrangements provided by Rausch Funeral Home.

Visitation
February 19, 2011
1:00 to 2:00 P.M.
Location: Rausch Funeral Home - Owings, MD

Memorial Service
February 19, 2011
2:00 P.M.
Location: Rausch Funeral Home - Owings, MD