Harold Lewis Ritter

Harold Lewis Ritter
“It’s never goodbye, it’s see you later”

Harold Ritter, 84, died surrounded by family October 4, 2023, at Hillcrest Hospital. He was born in Ada, OK, the son of Lewis and Sadie Ritter. As a child, the family moved to the Oklahoma City area where he was raised in the countryside alongside his younger brother, Howard, where they enjoyed a creative and imaginative childhood.

Harold graduated from Deer Creek High School in 1958. He married his best friend, Lola Frances Stockton, August 7, 1959 at the Two Lakes Baptist Church and enjoyed 64 years of marriage. To quote Harold, he “lived every little boy’s dream.” The couple moved to Edmond where Harold attended college at Central State University prior to purchasing his dream home with acreage in 1968. He enjoyed looking upon his property admiring his corriente cattle from his back door. Harold was a lifelong welder by trade, both, working independently through Ritter’s Portable Welding Service and the Grand River Dam Authority. As a young boy, he was introduced to calf roping and fell in love with the sport of rodeo. He was a devoted member and cofounder of Edmond Round Up Club, additionally involved in local round up clubs. He was a member of Rodeo Cowboys Association (RCA), now PRCA, International Professional Rodeo Association (IPRA), and National Rifle Association (NRA). Harold loved the rodeo event of steer wrestling providing cattle and competing. As a natural teacher, Harold always had his home arena filled with cowboys learning the sport; he loved to be in the arena. Harold and Frances raised two beautiful daughters, Diana and Tawna, in whom he instilled a work ethic, competitiveness and grit. They were his pride in the arena as they traveled across the country to compete.

Ritter was preceded in death by his parents, Lewis and Sadie Ritter, and sister Thelma Ihrig and husband Clyde. Surviving in addition to his wife, Lola Frances (Stockton) Ritter, are his daughters, Diana D. Shoop and her husband, Roy; Tawna L. Mibb and her husband, Brock; seven grandchildren, Tanner and Chelsie Shoop, Shanell and Brode Gray, Trevor Shoop and fiancée Chandra Kelsey, Blaine and Katie Mibb, Brent and Hayden Mibb, Brookelyn Mibb and Ravyn Mibb; six great-grandchildren Sadie Shoop, Sarah Shoop, Asa Gray, Charlotte Gray, Bodie Mibb, and Maverick Eslinger; and his brother, Howard (Nub) and wife Mary Ritter.

Visitation will be held 6 p.m. Saturday, October 7, at Shipman’s Funeral Home, 1204 N. E. 1 st St., Pryor, OK. Please join the family in a Celebration of Life to be held 4 p.m. Sunday, October 8, at Cowboy Gatherin’ Church 30707 S. 4240 Rd, Inola, OK. Burial will be 3 p.m., Tuesday, October 10, Fairview Cemetery Old Hwy 20 E, Pryor, OK.