Woodrow W. "Woody" Ritenour

Woody Ritenour was born in Connellsville, Pennsylvania on February 3, 1920. He was raised on a farm and as was the tradition, the youngest child was the only one permitted to finish high school. He completed the eighth grade with the highest grades in the township. Not being the youngest son, he went to work on the family farm. One of his first jobs as a teenager was off-bearing lumber at his father’s sawmill. This helped him gain knowledge of lumber. He served December 31, 1941 to October 1945 in World War II in the Army Air Corp in North Africa and received a Battle Zone Ribbon with four Bronze Stars indicating service in a total of four battles zones. He also received a Good Conduct Medal. His unique skill as a cook was vital to the success of the war effort and in feeding his children when Claribel was sick. While in Italy, he witnessed the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Following his service, he returned home to Pennsylvania where he worked as a member of a framing crew in the summer and ran a snow plow in the winter. Shortly after, he was promoted to foreman of the framing crew. Later, he began operating a strip mine in West Virginia where he “flushed Claribel out of the brush”, fell in love and got married. They moved back to Pennsylvania and after a few years, returned to West Virginia in 1956 where he started his carpentry and home building business operating as WW Ritenour, Inc. He was one of the earliest members of the Home Builders Association of Greater Charleston and was the sixth President of the Home Builders Association of West Virginia, serving in 1965 and 1966. During his term as state President, he was invited to the White House to witness the signing of the bill that created the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). He was fortunate enough to receive one of the pens President Lyndon B. Johnson used to sign the bill. Following this, he was the national representative for West Virginia to the National Association of Home Builders. Around 1970 he joined Bill Dempsey building homes and apartments in Cross Lanes. A few years later, he joined J. E. White Construction and worked there until 1978 when he formed Ritenour and Sons, Inc. with his two sons, Robert and Randy. He served as President of this company until 1992 when he retired at age 72 to become the building inspector/zoning officer for the City of St. Albans. He held this position for 15 years until he retired at age 87. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Claribel and is survived by one daughter, Cindy L. Hall and her husband Larry and two sons, Randy D. Ritenour and his wife Mary and Robert W. Ritenour and his wife Pennie; three grandchildren, Tami G. Coles (Travis), Bridget L. Meadows (Matt) and Jacob D. Ritenour (Mandy); two step-grandchildren, Hollie L. Sims (Jesse) and Zane L. Metz III; six great grandchildren, Jonathan Coles, Gabriel Coles, Anna Coles, Dylan Meadows, Leah Meadows and Alex Meadows; three step-great-grandchildren, Zane L. Metz IV, Dustin Sims and Nathan Sims; brother, Harold “Sonny” Ritenour; sister, Dorothy Clark and numerous nieces and nephews all from Pennsylvania. Funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm Monday, August 27, 2018 at First Baptist Church, St. Albans with the Rev. Joel M. Harpold officiating. Burial will be in Grandview Memorial Park, Dunbar with military honors. Friends may call from 12 to 2:00 pm prior to the funeral service at the church. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donation to, The First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 350, St. Albans, WV 25177 or Henry E. King Scholarship Fund, Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, 1600 Hunt Square, Lee Street East, Charleston, WV 25301 You may visit Woody’s tribute page at chapmanfuneralhomes.com to share memories or condolences with the family. Bartlett-Chapman Funeral Home, family owned and located at 409 Sixth Ave., St. Albans is honored to serve the Ritenour family.

Woodrow W. "Woody" Ritenour

February 3, 1920 - August 24, 2018