Dr. Robert Lucien Ritter

KNOXVILLE - Dr. Robert Lucien Ritter, age 93, of Knoxville, Tennessee passed away on Monday, October 23, 2023. Bob was born in Louisville, Kentucky on June 13, 1930 to Lucien Charles and Lillian Meade Ritter. He graduated from the University of Louisville with a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and started working at Union Carbide in Oak Ridge, Tennessee in 1952. He was then drafted into military service where he served two years at Fort Bragg, NC. After exiting the service, Bob obtained his PhD from the University of Tennessee in Chemistry. He continued working for Union Carbide for 42 years, until his retirement in 1995. Bob taught Chemistry to home school students and became a math teacher at Johnson Bible College. He met the love of his life, Peggy Shannon in 1945 and they were married on June 9, 1953. They had a wonderful marriage of 63 years, until her death in 2015. Bob was very active in his church, Sullivan Road Christian Church where he served as an elder, sunday school superintendent and song leader. He was very active in kids sports leagues as a coach and he was a Boy Scout Leader. Bob is preceded in death by his wife, Peggy and brother, Charles. He is survived by his children, Steve Ritter (Nita), Jean Smith (Andy), Michael Ritter (Donna); grandchildren, Shannon, Kenny, Andrea, Caitlyn, Stephanie, Paul, Rebecca, Michael Charles, Chris, Trevor and Michael Dylan and 13 great grandchildren. A visitation will be held for Bob on Friday, October 27, 2023 from 5-7pm with a funeral service to follow. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.berryhighlandmemorial.com for the Ritter family.