Lillian Frances Ritchie

Lillian Frances (Estell) Ritchie, 101, a resident of rural Middletown passed away at her home surrounded by family on Tuesday, January 17, 2023. She was born at home in Maple Valley, Indiana on May 3, 1921, the second daughter of John and Nona Estell.

Lillian believed in the importance of a good education and made sure that her children received one. She was one of eight children. Her siblings included brothers, Cecil, Howard, John, Jr., Richard, Paul and Jim, and her sister Ruth. Lillian remembered growing up during the Great Depression, having two dresses, teaching herself to sew, driving the wagon while hay was being cut and while helping her mom deliver cottage cheese to neighbors. She joyfully remembered meeting the love of her life at a basketball game at the gym in Cadiz, IN. She gardened and canned, cooked and sewed, and enjoyed raising her son and twin daughters on the farm. Lillian lived her entire life in rural Indiana but was blessed to have traveled to Hawaii and Europe.

She loved doing genealogy and learning where her family came from. Lillian loved spending time with her family and watching them grow.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in law, Connie and Kenny Hall; granddaughters, Marcy Ritchie, Julie (Brad) Kirschling, Melissa Ritchie, Kristine (Bob) Miller, Colette (Michael) Kinnett, Michelle (Jay) Smith and Nancy (Joshua) Blocher; great-grandchildren, Joshawa, Jesse, Jynessa, Jynifer, Chyanne, Denver, Darie, Stephanie, Randall, Tony, Emily, Hunter, Hope, Savannah, Stephen and Synthia; and multiple great-great grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by, all of her siblings, her husband, Kenneth, her son, Stephen, her daughter, Bonnie and her grandson, Jason.

Services will be held at 2:00 pm on Thursday, January 26, 2023 at Ballard and Sons Funeral Home in Middletown, with Pastor Marty Ballard officiating. Visitation will be on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm and one hour prior to the service on Thursday at the funeral home.
You may express condolences or share a memory of Lillian at www.ballardandsons.com