Elvin A. Ritter, age 81, of Clinton, passed away, Thursday, December 26, 2019 at his home.  Visitation will be Wednesday, January 1, 5-7PM at Vansant-Mills Funeral Home, Clinton.  Funeral services will be 1PM, Thursday, January 2 at Vansant-Mills Funeral Home with Interment following in the Maplewood Cemetery, Deepwater.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Maplewood Cemetery and can be left in care of funeral home. Condolences and fond memories may be left online at www.vansant-millsfuneralhome.com .

Elvin "Andy" Andrew Ritter was born June 21, 1938, in Brownington, Missouri the son of Sigmund and Genevieve (Crowder) Ritter. He peacefully passed away December 26, 2019 at home.

He graduated from Diamond Point Grade School and went to Deepwater High School for 2 years. His family moved to Kansas City and he graduated form Manuel High School. He joined the Marines soon after graduation and was stationed in Okinawa and Peru, the Philippines and was on a ship outside Vietnam. He was called back to service during the Missile Crisis in Cuba, he did not have to go because the crisis was settled just hours before he was to leave.

He married Karen Belton as soon as he got out of the Marines. They lived in Kansas City for a few months and moved to Colorado in January of 1960. He was a commercial sheet metal worker job foreman for 30 years and a Building Engineer at Denver Tech Center for 10 years. He had a cabin just outside of Rocky Mountain National Park and loved to hunt and fish in that area. He also liked to go on back mountain roads in his 47 Jeep with family and friends.

In 1999 he retired and moved back to Clinton to Karen's family farm where he raised black angus cows. He loved working on the farm. He enjoyed spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Karen and four children, Colleen Seydler (Karl) of Tyler, Texas, Scott Ritter (Helen) of Clinton, LaRae Seifert (Keith) of Castle Rock, Colorado and Kent Ritter of Clinton. Also 14 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. His sister, Johnnie Ritter of Shawnee Mission, Kansas, brother Doug Ritter (Sue) of Mead, Kansas and Phoenix, Arizona and several nieces and nephews.

Andy was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Harold Ritter and sisters, Darlene Wilson and Donna Young.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home, Clinton, Missouri.