Werner H. Ritz

Werner H. Ritz, of Abilene, passed away Saturday, October 18, 2008 at the age of 71. Funeral services, with Rev. Lee Fuller officiating, will be at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, October 20, 2008 at Wylie Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. May 1, 1937, Werner was born in Wuppertal, Germany to Werner and Imgard (Schulten) Ritz. In 1957 Werner came to America from Germany by ship. The voyage took 12 days. He served in the United States Army from 1959 to 1963, during which time, in 1962, he became a United States Citizen. He resided in New Jersey from 1957 until 1974, when he moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado; which would be his home until he moved to Abilene in 1985. Werner worked as a computer programmer for NCR from 1969 to 1986, and then for First National Bank of Abilene from 1986 to 1993. July 19, 1986, Werner married Nadine Burke in Abilene, Texas. In 1993, he went to work as a computer programmer for Hardin-Simmons University, until his retirement in 1999. Werner enjoyed coaching boys' soccer. He was a member of Wylie Baptist Church. Werner's parents preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife, Nadine Ritz, of Abilene; three daughters, Monica Baca, of Mt. Vernon, Washington, Heidi Stephens, of Woodland Hills, California, and Lisa Ferrell and her husband Tim, of Colorado Springs, Colorado; one step-son, Richard Burke and his wife Pauline, of Abilene; one step-daughter, Anita Beal and her husband Terry, also of Abilene; five grandchildren, Rachael Ferrell, Daniel Ferrell, Kathryn Ferrell, Amanda Ferrell, and Rebecca Baca; six step-grandchildren, Bailey Beal and his wife Courtney, Brady Beal and his wife Alex, Hunter Beal, Darby Beal and her husband Josh, Ashton Burke and Lauren Burke; and one step great-grandchild, Brookelyn Beal. Memorials may be made in Werner's honor to the Wylie Baptist Church Building Fund, 6097 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene, Texas 79606; or to Hendrick Hospice Care, 1682 Hickory Street, Abilene, Texas 79601.