Robert P. Ritzer, a lifetime resident of Vernon, N.J., went to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, April 30, 2021. He was 89 years old.
Born in in Vernon, N.J., on September 12, 1931, he was the son of Sanford “Patsy” and Rebecca “Rose” Burston Ritzer.
Robert was Bob to most and Dad, Grandpa, Pop-pop and HunnyBun.
Bob was a veteran, having served in the U.S. Navy on the Wrangell AE-12 during the Korean War.
Bob was a member of the New Milford United Methodist Church and served as a lay leader. He was active in the community as an Odd Fellow member at Lodge 34; member of the New Milford Historical Society and past commander and chaplain of the Nicholas P. Lesando Legion Post 214 in Warwick, N.Y.
Bob started his railroad career at Lehigh & Hudson in Warwick, N.Y., Erie Lackawanna Railway and went on to be an engineer and conductor on the Conrail Railroad. He also drove a school bus part-time earlier.
Bob loved his trains, garden and was an avid Mets fan. Growing up on a farm, Bob worked hard baling hay and milking cows; he even had a route delivering milk and eggs.
After retirement, Bob enjoyed his big garden, worked on his sawmill and also made maple syrup.
Visitation was held May 6 at Lazear-Smith & Vander Plaat Memorial Home, 17 Oakland Ave., Warwick.
A funeral service was held May 7 at the funeral home. Interment with military honors followed in Warwick Cemetery.
Robert is survived by his beloved wife, Ethel (Chardavoyne); children: Darlene Vance and her husband John of Vernon, N.J., Cindy Sullivan of Jacksonville, Fla., and Paul Ritzer and his wife Sharon of Newton, N.J.; eight grandchildren: Kristen and Terry Vance, Caitlin Koch, Kelsey Rotroff, Ryan Sullivan, Rebecca Van Haste, and Colleen and Hailey Ritzer; and five great-grandchildren: Killian and Ronin VanHaste, Chevvy Rotroff, and Kinsley and Aiden Koch.
Donations may be made in Bob’s memory to the Parkinson’s Foundation, 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York, NY 10018.
Arrangements were made by Lazear-Smith & Vander Plaat Memorial Home. To send an online condolence, visit www.lsvpmemorialhome.com.