Bruce Ritter

Bruce D. Ritter
Bruce Ritter passed away on Saturday, January 16, 2010, at the age of 66 in Lubbock, Texas after a lengthy and courageous battle with primary systemic amyloidosis.
Bruce was born on November 20, 1943, in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. His parents were Walter S. and Mary Catherine Roush Ritter. He moved with his family to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1957 and graduated from Highland High School in 1961. He attended New Mexico State University and graduated in May of 1971 with a Bachelor of Accounting degree. He began his professional career in 1971 in Phoenix, Arizona at Walker Armstrong, CPAs. In 1975 he relocated to Roswell, New Mexico and became a partner in the firm of Crocker Company, CPAs where he remained until 1982 when the firm merged with the worldwide certified accounting firm of Ernst Whinney. Bruce served as Managing Partner of Ernst Whinneys Roswell office until the formation of Ritter Company, LLC in May of 1991.
Over his career, Bruce received numerous awards and recognition from the many civic associations of which he was a member. The New Mexico Society of Certified Public Accountants honored him with its Public Service Award in 1991. Also in 1991, Bruce was given New Mexico State Universitys Distinguished Alumni Award. In 2000 the Roswell Sertoma Club honored Bruce with the Service to Mankind Award. He was currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Eastern New Mexico State Fair, the New Mexico Amigos, and the Board of Directors of the Conquistador Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He was also serving as a member of the Board of Directors for two private charitable foundations.
Bruce previously served as a member and past President of the Board of Regents of the New Mexico Military Institute, Treasurer of the New Mexico Military Institutes Parents Association, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Educational Achievement Foundation, President of the Board of Directors of the Roswell Chamber of Commerce, President of the Board of Directors of the United Way of Chaves County, President of the Board of Directors of the Roswell Symphony Orchestra, former member of the Board of Directors of the New Mexico State University Foundation, a member of the Roswell Pecos Valley Rotary Club, and a member of the Roswell Family YMCA Foundation.
Bruces professional memberships included the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the New Mexico Society of CPAs, and the New Mexico Chapter of Petroleum Accountants Society. Bruce was a sponsoring member of the Independent Petroleum Association of New Mexico where he served as Treasurer and was honored twice by the Association as Member of the Year New Mexico. Last year, he received the distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award, an honor of which he was extremely proud.
Bruce was honored and proud to have served his country as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, where he served as a field artillery officer assigned to the 1st Infantry Division, the Big Red 1, as a forward observer. He served one tour in Vietnam, returning home to New Mexico in 1969.
Bruce was an avid runner, having completed over 30 marathons and numerous other races over many years. He also spent countless hours flyfishing the rivers of New Mexico, Colorado, and Montana as well as the White River in Arkansas. Bruce was a member of St. Andrews Episcopal Church.
Bruce is survived by his wife, Mary McCarter Ritter, whom he married in June of 1971 in Roswell, New Mexico. They have three children, a son Brett and his wife Taylor of Atlanta, Georgia a son Boyd of Amarillo, Texas daughterinlaw Erin Ritter of Amarillo and a daughter Zenaida Baca and her husband Philip of Roswell. He is also survived by four precious grandchildren, Jessica, Kaitlin, and Andrew Baca of Roswell, and Reagan Ritter of Amarillo. His mother, Mary Ritter, survives him in Albuquerque, as does a brother, John Ritter and his wife Diane, also of Albuquerque and his brother Richard Ritter and his wife Linda of Socorro, New Mexico. He is survived by his sisterin law, Roslinda Wells and her husband Bill of Ridgeland, Mississippi and by numerous nieces, nephews, greatnieces and greatnephews, his hardworking, dedicated office staff and managers and his many, many friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Walter, and a brother, Ned, and his mother and fatherinlaw, Corrine and H.B. Pete McCarter.
Memorial services will be held Friday, January 22, at 2:00 PM at First United Methodist Church, 200 North Pennsylvania Avenue, Roswell, NM 88201, with the Reverend Stephen Caldwell presiding. The family will greet friends at a reception at the church immediately following the service.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions be made to the New Mexico Military Institute Foundation, Inc.,101 W. College, Roswell, NM 88201 the Amyloidosis Research Foundation, 7151 N. Main St., Suite 208, Clarkston, MI 48346 the Roswell Boys and Girls Club, 201 S. Garden, Roswell, NM 88203 or a charity of the givers choice.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Ballard Funeral Home and Crematory. An online registry can be accessed at www.ballardfuneralhome.com

Service

Memorial Service

First United Methodist Church
200 N. Pennsylvania Ave.
Roswell, NM  88201
Friday, January 22, 2010
2:00 p.m.

Memorial Contributions

101 W. College
Roswell, NM  88201


7151 N. Main St. Suite 208
Clarkston, MI  48346


201 S. Garden
Roswell, NM  88203