Bernard Ritchie, 97, of Barnesville, Ohio passed away Wednesday, July 04, 2012 at Barnesville Health Care Center. He was born August 30, 1914 in Barnesville, Ohio, son of the late John Ritchie and Edna Ramsey Ritchie. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Barnesville. He was a World War II Army Veteran, serving in the Medical Corps from 1943 until 1946. Bernard was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Barnesville Moose, Elks, and Eagles. His hobbies included: carpentry, cooking, and fishing. Bernard retired after 50 years of service from the United Ohio Valley Dairy plant in Barnesville. Bernard said he hung around the dairy, playing cards with the truck drivers, until he was 15 years old, when one of the bosses offered him a job. He began his dairy career in the receiving room where the incoming milk was weighed, sampled, and tested. At that time, about 40 routes were coming in daily from area farmers. Bernard spent his entire working career at the dairy except for the three years he served with the Medical Corps. In 1960, he became maintenance supervisor for the dairy's field offices. His job involved maintaining all the machinery in the remaining Barnesville plant, or as he said, "I just keep the wheels a turning." In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his infant sister, Cecelin Ritchie and infant brother, Authur Ritchie; sisters, Stella Chesser and Jeannette Medley. Bernard is survived by his wife of 63 years, Ruth (Rooks) Ritchie, of Barnesville, Ohio; daughter, Robin (Todd) Graham, of Morristown, Ohio; grandchildren, Brad (Sue) Craig and Angela Craig (Dustin Theriault); great-grandson, Owen Theriault; sister, Regina West, of Martins Ferry, Ohio; nieces, Doris (Joe) Brown, Martha (Kirk) Swalllie, Sue (Tom) Kelly, and Barbara Bergquist; nephews, Mike Mick and Donald Roby. Friends may visit, Friday 4 to 8 p.m., Kelly Kemp Braido & Patron Funeral Home, 702 East Main Street, Barnesville, Ohio where services will be conducted, Saturday 1:30 p.m. Reverend Tom Detling officiating. Interment will follow at Crestview Cemetery, Barnesville, Ohio.