Patricia A. (Morris) Ritter-Waltrup

The matriarch of our family, Patricia Ritter-Waltrup (81), passed away on March 29, 2024 surrounded by her family.  Pat was the second oldest of eight children born to the late Max and Betty (Hoaglin) Morris of Keosauqua, IA.  After graduating Stockport High School in 1960, she went to Fairfield College where she met her first husband, Gary Ritter.  They married in the Morris family home in 1963 and moved to Fallbrook, CA where he was from.  The two of them located an apartment in Pasadena, where they started a family.  It was in LA that she began working for Honeywell Information Systems as a secretary.

Pat’s work ethic, intelligence and aptitude for computer programing was immediately recognized by the senior management team.  Pat’s divorce from Gary in 1968 provided the right circumstances for her to take an opportunity as a Program Analyst in Annapolis, MD.  Her Honeywell co-workers embraced the single mother assisting her with the purchase of her first car and navigating life on the Chesapeake Bay with two little ones.  Pat was detail oriented and a fast learner who continued to impress her management team.  After five years, they moved Pat and her boys to Phoenix, AZ to work with their Main Frame business.  It was there that Pat opened her home and heart to her niece, Amy, whom she adopted in 1974.  From Phoenix, Pat was again transferred to the Waltham, MA headquarters in 1977. She worked out of the Massachusetts offices through her retirement. It was during her tenure at Honeywell, that Pat met her second husband, John Waltrup.  They married in 1983 at the Wayside Inn in Sudbury enjoying 30 years of marriage.

Pat valued education. She returned to college when she was in her 50’s earning her Masters Degree in Business Administration from Simmons College at age 55. She was very proud of this accomplishment. Always busy, she enjoyed gardening both garden vegetables and flowers. She loved to sew and spent many years at Wayside Sewing creating homemade gifts for her friends and family. In 2011 she ran for and was elected President of The Villages of Quail Run housing association.  Pat applied her business knowledge and acumen to running the 150-home 55+ community for 12 years; a job she took as seriously as any paid position.

Pat is survived by her children; David Ritter and his wife Elaine of Marlborough, James Ritter of Hudson, Amy (Morris) Boyer and her husband Eric of Donnellson, IA, and John Waltrup III and his wife Catlin McLaughlin of Keene, NH.  Patricia was extremely proud of her 10 grandchildren: Samantha, Jade, Marcus, Kayla, Devone, Zachary, Evan, Jack, Amanda and Meredith and her 11 great grandchildren.   Patricia leaves behind her sisters Ramona Ritchhart (Roger) and Erma Lewis (Don) as well as her brothers Robert Morris, Raymond Morris (Connie) and Virgil Morris (Cindy). She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews three of which she helped raise; her niece, Carmen Goodrich (Paul) of Milford, MA, and her nephews Robert Fendrych of Carmicheal, CA, and Raymond Fendrych and his partner, Charlotte Blake of Sacramento, CA.  Patricia was predeceased by both her parents and her sisters Beverly Pacheco and Elizabeth Marrton. 

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Saturday, June 22, 2024 at Morris Park, 10933 Timber Road, Stockport, IA 52651 where we will plant a flowering tree in her honor. Please RSVP to: Amy Boyer at springbulb4@hotmail by June 10th so we can plan lunch accordingly. Kindly put “Pat’s Celebration of Life” in the subject line so that we don’t mistake you for spam.

This historical property was the site her ancestors settled in 1838. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Van Buren County Conservation for the benefit of the Morris Park Restoration, 816 Franklin Street, Keosauqua, IA  52565 (219) 293-3589. Pat enjoyed many family memories here both as a child and as an adult. It is only fitting to remember her there amongst friends and family.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Patricia A. (Morris) Ritter-Waltrup, please visit our floral store.