Linda Louise Ritchie, 73, Silver Lake, passed away surrounded by her family at 8:32 a.m. on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, at her residence.

She was born on Sept. 9, 1946, in South Bend. She was the oldest of five children born to H. Patricia (Gorny) and Richard Eugene Clark, who were all of North Liberty, Indiana. Linda always said she was very blessed to have grown up in North Liberty in the 1950’s and 1960’s. On Aug. 23, 1968 she was married in North Liberty to James “Jim” Ritchie, who survives.

Linda was a 1964 graduate of North Liberty High School. She moved to Silver Lake in 1977. She worked as a teacher’s aide for Warsaw Community Schools and retired after twenty-nine years, twenty years of which she spent at Silver Lake Elementary School. She enjoyed traveling, loved to go on walks, hiking and gardening. Linda was always up for a shopping trip and could spend hours antiquing. She loved the outdoors and animals, and was a volunteer at the Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County and a member of ACRES Land Trust. Since retiring, she loved to visit national parks out west with her husband and children. Linda finally took her last trip of a lifetime to Israel in 2019. She experienced the Holy Land before her passing. She will be dearly missed by her friends and family.

She will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 51 years, James “Jim” Ritchie, Silver Lake; son: Wade Ritchie, Silver Lake; daughter: Dawn Ritchie, Fort Wayne; sister: Mary (Scott) Hatch, Hendersonville, N.C.; and her brother: Dennis (Gail) Clark, Indianapolis. She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Phyllis Snyder and Carol Albright, all of North Liberty.

Visitation will be held from 2-4 p.m. on Monday, March 16, at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, Indiana. Linda’s life will be celebrated with a service immediately following visitation at 4 p.m. and officiated by Pastor William Whitaker. Burial will take place at a later date at Westlawn Cemetery in North Liberty.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be directed to the Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County, 1048 S. 325 W., Pierceton, IN 46562; or to ACRES Land Trust, P.O. Box 665, Huntertown, IN 46748 and would be appreciated by the family.

Online condolences may be sent through the funeral home’s website at www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com.