Crossing Crash At Whitewater Fatal to Couple

Mr. And Mrs. Ora Ritterhouse, 713 S. Malcom, were killed this morning about 8:20 o'clock when their car was struck by a Rock Island freight train at a crossing near Whitewater in thick fog.

The Rittehouses were westbound on highway K196 and approached the crossing about on-half mile west of Whitewater.

Trooper Don Dody of the highway patrol told the Associated Press that a thick fog blanketed the area and Ritterhouse apparently filed to see the train and flashing signal lights until he was "stopped right on the tracks."

Rittershoue, 68, maintenance supervisor at Neosho Memorial Hospital, and his wife, Sarah, 69, were in route to Hutchinson. Ritterhouse was to attend a meeting there concerning hospital maintenance. Glen Dormols, Neosho Memorial administrator said.

Whitewater is between El Dorado and Newton.

The bodies were taken to the Lamb Funeral Home in Whitewater. Among the survivors are a daughter of Overland Park and a sister of Ritterhouse, Edna Ritterhouse of Yates Center.

Chanute Tribune
April 18, 1970
Page 6, col. 5

Deaths-Funerals
Mr. And Mrs Ora Ritterhouse

Funeral service for Ora and Sarah Ritterhouse will be Monday at 2 p.m. at the First Methodist Church with Dr. Duff Wagoner officiating. Burial will be I Memorial Park Cemetery.

Mr. And Mrs. Ritterhouse, 713 S. Malcom, were killed Thursday morning in a car-train accident near Whitewater.

The couple was married April 3, 1943, at Lyons.

Ritterhouse, 68 was born Oct. 22, 1901, at Council Grove, the son of Mr. And Mrs. Charles L. Ritterhouse.

Maintiance man at Neosho Memorial Hospital, he had been a resident of this area for 30 years.

He was a between of World War II. Memberships included the First United Methodist Church, Odd Fellows, Kansas Hospital Engineers Association, Rebekah Lodge and Rural Grange.

Sarah Penner Saint, 69 was born July 1, 1900, the daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Claus Penner. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church. Order of Eastern Star, White Shrine of Jerusalem and Rural Grange, a charter member of Women's Society of Christian Service and a past noble grand of Rebekah Lodge.

Ritterhouse is survived by a sister, Edna Ritterhouse, Yates Center , and a brother Merel, Denver, Colo. Mrs. Ritterhouse is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Robert (Bernice) Orth, Overland Park; three grandchildren and a sister, Justina Hill, Pomona, Calif.

Johnson Mortuary is in charge.

Crossing Crash At Whitewater Fatal to Couple

Mr. And Mrs. Ora Ritterhouse, 713 S. Malcom, were killed this morning about 8:20 o'clock when their car was struck by a Rock Island freight train at a crossing near Whitewater in thick fog.

The Rittehouses were westbound on highway K196 and approached the crossing about on-half mile west of Whitewater.

Trooper Don Dody of the highway patrol told the Associated Press that a thick fog blanketed the area and Ritterhouse apparently filed to see the train and flashing signal lights until he was "stopped right on the tracks."

Rittershoue, 68, maintenance supervisor at Neosho Memorial Hospital, and his wife, Sarah, 69, were in route to Hutchinson. Ritterhouse was to attend a meeting there concerning hospital maintenance. Glen Dormols, Neosho Memorial administrator said.

Whitewater is between El Dorado and Newton.

The bodies were taken to the Lamb Funeral Home in Whitewater. Among the survivors are a daughter of Overland Park and a sister of Ritterhouse, Edna Ritterhouse of Yates Center.

Chanute Tribune
April 18, 1970
Page 6, col. 5

Deaths-Funerals
Mr. And Mrs Ora Ritterhouse

Funeral service for Ora and Sarah Ritterhouse will be Monday at 2 p.m. at the First Methodist Church with Dr. Duff Wagoner officiating. Burial will be I Memorial Park Cemetery.

Mr. And Mrs. Ritterhouse, 713 S. Malcom, were killed Thursday morning in a car-train accident near Whitewater.

The couple was married April 3, 1943, at Lyons.

Ritterhouse, 68 was born Oct. 22, 1901, at Council Grove, the son of Mr. And Mrs. Charles L. Ritterhouse.

Maintiance man at Neosho Memorial Hospital, he had been a resident of this area for 30 years.

He was a between of World War II. Memberships included the First United Methodist Church, Odd Fellows, Kansas Hospital Engineers Association, Rebekah Lodge and Rural Grange.

Sarah Penner Saint, 69 was born July 1, 1900, the daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Claus Penner. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church. Order of Eastern Star, White Shrine of Jerusalem and Rural Grange, a charter member of Women's Society of Christian Service and a past noble grand of Rebekah Lodge.

Ritterhouse is survived by a sister, Edna Ritterhouse, Yates Center , and a brother Merel, Denver, Colo. Mrs. Ritterhouse is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Robert (Bernice) Orth, Overland Park; three grandchildren and a sister, Justina Hill, Pomona, Calif.

Johnson Mortuary is in charge.