The Advocate-Messenger, Danville, Kentucky, 25 Jul 1961, Tue • Page 1
Centre Physics Dep't. Head Succumbs At Age 62
Dr. Earland Ritchie, 62, full professor and head of the Centre College physics department since 1946, was found dead about 8 a. m. Tuesday in the backyard of his home at 424 Logan Avenue here.
Death was attributed to a heart attack, Dr. Ritchie having suffered serious heart trouble in recent years. It is assumed that he died two or three hours prior to the discovery of his body by J. B. Wilkinson, a Centre janitor and campus mail carrier.
Mrs. Ritchie, who manages the Centre book store and post office, has been at Sue Bennett College in London since Saturday serving as chairman of the Kentucky Conference of the School of Missions and Christian Service of the Women's Society of Christian Service of the Methodist Church. Dr. Ritchie had been replacing her in the college post office. When he failed to show up at the post office this morning, Wilkinson went to the Ritchie home and found the body.
Dr. Ritchie was the third Centre faculty department chairman to die in less than seven months, Dr. Richard I. Rush, chemistry professor, died Jan. 5 and Prof, Dwight Steere, music professor, died Feb. 16. The combined service of the three men to Centre totaled 63 years.
Dr. Frank H. Heck, Centre academic dean, declared today Dr. Ritchie's death is a great loss to the college. During his 15 years at Centre he demonstrated a genuine devotion to his duties as teacher and a deep concern for the intellectual growth of the young people whom he taught and counseled. Though, he had been in poor health for some time, he did not allow his condition to stand in the way of thorough planning and effective presentation of his lectures and laboratory sessions. While he spent most of his career as a college teacher, Dr. Ritchie took an active part in the movement to improve the quality of instruction in the sciences in the elementary and secondary schools. He will be remembered particularly as an earnest Christian and active churchman. Prior to ioining the Centre Facility in June 1946. Dr. Ritchie served from July 1943, to June, 1946, as acting head of the physics department at DePauw University, Greencastle, Ind. From 1938 to 1943 he was dean of instruction at Taylor University. Unland, Ind. and before that had taught at Doane Colleege, Crete. Neb. He also had taught 10 years in public schools in Indiana.
Dr. Ritchie was graduated from Ball State Teachers College at Muncie. Ind., and held the master's degree from Columbia University, New York City, and the doctor-of philiosophy degree from Indiana University at Bloomington. Regarded as one of the out standing physicists of the region he was director of the National Science Foundation Institute of 118 officials and instructors In science held at the University of Kentucky in Aug. 1957. He was also a consultant to the state committee on science instruction in the public schools.
Dr. Ritchie was a leading Methodist layman. He had served as steward of the Centenary Methodist Church here, a member of the commission on education of the church, and taught the Crockett Bible class. At Centre he was a member of the faculty research committer and had served as chairman of various faculty committees during his 15 years at the school.
He was born Aug. 2, 1898, at Yorkstown, Ind.
Survivors in addition to his wife include a daughter, Mrs. James S. Dougherty. 529 Hill 'n Dale Dr., Lexington: a son, Paul Ritchie. Bogart, Ga.; a sister, Mrs. Chester Barber, Albany, Ind., and four grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 o'clock Thursday after noon at Centenary Methodist Church by Dr. Albert W. Sweazy, the pastor, assisted by the Rev. C. Nevil White, a former castor of that church and former superintendent of the Danville District of the Methodist Church. Members of the faculty of Centre College and of Dr. Ritchie's Sunday school class will serve as honorary pallbearers. Burial will be in Bellevue Cemetery.
The body is at Stith Funeral Home.
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The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Kentucky, 26 Jul 1961, Wed • Page 9
Dr. Earland Ritchie Of Centre Dies At 62
Special to The Courier-Journal
Danville, Ky., July 25--Dr. Earland Ritchie, head of the Centre College physics department since 1946, was found dead at his home here Tuesday morning. He was 62.
He apparently suffered a heart attack in the back yard. Mrs. Ritchie, who manages the Centre bookstore and post office, had been at Sue Bennett College in London since Saturday. She has been serving as chairman of the Kentucky Conference of the School of Missions and Christian Service of the Women's Society of Christian Service of The Methodist Church.
Held Indiana Posts
Before joining the Centre faculty, Dr. Ritchie was acting head of the physics department at DePauw University, Greencastle, Ind. Before that, he was dean of instruction at Taylor University, Upland, lnd., and taught at Doane College, Crete, Neb. He Also taught 10 years in Indiana public schools.
The native of Yorktown, Ind., received his bachelor's degree from Ball State Teachers College. He took his master's from Columbia University and his doctorate at Indiana University.
He was director of the National Science Foundation Institute held at the University of Kentucky in August, 1957, and was a consultant to the state committee on science instruction in the public schools.
Surviving besides his wife are a daughter, Mrs. James S. Dougherty, Lexington, and a son, Paul Ritchie, Bogart, Ga.
The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Centenary Methodist Church. The body is a Stith Funeral Home.