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Obituary for Clair Ray Ritzman

Clair R. Ritzman, 84, died September 22, 2007, in his Kutztown residence. He was the husband of the late Corinne E. (Mertz) Ritzman, who died in 1999.
He was born in Kutztown on April 12, 1923 to the late Scott E. and Florence K. (Fegley) Ritzman. He was a printer for 39 years, retiring from Reading Eagle Company.

He was an Army veteran of World War II. He served with the 27th Combat Engineers in the Pacific theater. He earned the Pacific Theater Ribbon with an arrowhead and three bronze stars, and also received the Philippines Ribbon with two stars. He was in five invasions from New Guinea through the Philippines, and then to Japan with occupying troops.

He was a charter and life member of the World War II Memorial Society. He was active in the I.T.U. Printers Union. He served on the Kutztown Borough Council and served as tax collector for 15 years. He was a member of Huguenot Lodge 377, F. & A.M., and the 32nd Scottish Rite of Reading. He was a former member of St. John's U.C.C., Kutztown, where he was a Sunday school teacher and an elder. He was the building committee chairman for the new church in 1961.

Survivors: Two daughters, Pamela A., wife of David Smith of Fleetwood, Kay L., husband of John Markiewicz of Kutztown; brother, Terry Ritzman of Reading; five grandchildren, a great-grandchild.
Services: Private graveside, Hope Cemetery, Kutztown. Arrangements, Edward I. Hildenbrand Funeral Home Inc., Kutztown. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the World War II Memorial, Box 186, Calverton, NY 11933.
Morning Call; 8/23/2007,