DONAVON “DON” RITZ

April 13, 1925 - April 9, 2022

Husband, father, grandfather, giver, gearhead, gambler, and all-around great guy, Donavon “Don” Ritz— who cherished his family above all—passed away peacefully, in Loma Linda, CA, on April 9, 2022. Don had a sudden and drastic decline in health after his second Covid vaccination, coupled with Dementia. He was 86 years young.

Born April 13, 1935, in Judson, North Dakota, to Fredrick Ritz Jr. & Helen Olson. Like most kids, he had a great wonder of the world around him. Ambitious from an early age, Don was just 12 years old, when he made the 1,600 mile move to Riverside, CA. He worked several odd jobs, before starting his first businesses in Riverside, Fair Price Window Washing and Fair Price Janitorial.

He soon met the love of his life and future bride, (then) Marlene Trausch. After a brief courtship, Don and Marlene fell in love and married on June 10, 1957. Marlene became Don’s travel companion, business partner, dance partner, mother of his two children Kim and Tammy and wife of 64 years.

Everyone who knew Don was aware of his acumen in business, sense of humor and his charitable nature. A long term source of pride for Don, he would tell the story of how in 1957, working out of their home garage, they founded a by-appointment-only carpet company, Fair Price Carpets. Fair Price got its start by selling pull-up carpets to local small businesses, like CBU’s first Riverside Campus over 60 years ago. With limited resources, he used grocery carts to move the carpet and landed his first of many life-long customers. His larger-than-life antics and an ability to spread joy wherever he went meant he left the room with friends and clients alike in smiles. Don could get away with saying things to you that no one else could, and you would laugh right along with him.

Don loved antique cars of all kinds, and was a life-long collector who would acquire a clunker to work on or a childhood classic to restoration, such as his pride and joy 1937 Buick Special. Don also loved riding motorcycles and collecting antique tractors. In fact, he would hitch a wagon to his tractor and give hayrides during community events. If it had wheels, he was interested.

Ever the humanitarian, he was a prominent community leader engaged in clubs and organizations, including 43 years with The Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #997, The Elks Lodge #836 and a life-long supporter of the Republican Party. If Don saw someone who genuinely needed help, he would help them, simple as that. It wasn’t uncommon for him to lend money, offer employment, food, clothing and even a home to live in for those in need. He took dozens of young people under his wing who had no education or formal skills, and trained them up to be independent, confident and capable men and women.

While Don gave all he could to those he loved, he had to seek help when he was diagnosed with debilitating Rheumatoid Arthritis. Told he may never walk again, he carried on vowing to prove them wrong. After bouts of painful therapy, dead ends and time spent in a wheelchair, the immeasurable hard work of he and Dr. Al Franco, MD of The Arthritis Center of Riverside, came to fruition. Don regained his ability to walk and didn’t spend much time sitting around after that!

After spending decades running several successful enterprises, Don and Marlene retired and decided to travel across the country in their RV with a car in tow. These were some of their most cherished times, adventuring across the country, like Don did as a teen so many years before, Don & Marlene would often visit family members in North Dakota and Nebraska for weeks at a time. While Don was always willing to get behind the wheel and make the drive, he was notorious for getting lost along the way with Marlene as co-pilot, Thomas Guide in hand. For Don, the trip was an adventure, so he took it all in stride. He could tell you about all kinds of beautiful places you could go…you just couldn’t ask him how to get there! A wrong way turn into the Denver Airport brings back many fond memories.

Don also loved Las Vegas. He and his immediate family took yearly trips to meet up with out-of-state relatives, often staying downtown at the Golden Nugget.

Retirement allowed Don to enjoy his leisure time but he remained active and involved, making regular trips to Fair Price Carpets to check on his various businesses, sometimes bringing up new ideas or ways to refine existing ones.

Don spent his final months under the love and care of Joy Boling, daughter Susie Fries and their family at their board and care in Loma Linda, CA along with help from Global Hospice. For months, Joy and her family held us up, dried our tears, understood our sorrow and were our strength when we had none. Don gave his final smile with peace and dignity, his last moments spent with Joy and Susie tightly holding his hand until he let it go, heading on to his next adventure.

Preceded in death by parents Fredrick Ritz Jr. & Helen Olsen, siblings Delilah Eytcheson, David Ritz, Duane Ritz. Don is survived by his first wife Marlene Ritz, daughters Kim Ritz, Tammy Barker (Gordon), grandchildren Kayla Tolson (Deceased), Kurt Ritz (Charles Gipson), Tiffany Bavadi (Travis), great-grandchildren Alyssa Tolson, Ryan Gonzales Jr., Trinity Bavadi, Taelyn Bavadi, Nikolai Gipson-Ritz, Rose Gipson-Ritz.

Don and Marlene are parishioners of Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church in Grand Terrace, CA.

A closed casket visitation (Rosary) for Don Ritz will be held at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Cemetery, Valley View Chapel, on Friday, May 20, 2022 from 4:30pm-8:00pm at 3510 E. Washington St., Colton, CA 92324.

Mass and Graveside Service will be held at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Cemetery, Valley View Chapel, on Saturday, May 21, 2022. Mass to be held at 10:00am, followed by the Graveside Service at 11:30am at 3510 E. Washington St., Colton, CA 92324.

An open reception hosted by the Ritz Family will follow at The Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #997, 466 E. La Cadena Drive, Riverside, CA 92507.

In lieu of flowers, donations on Don’s behalf may be made to The Alzheimer’s Association or The Arthritis Foundation.