PAUL RITCHHART

October 26, 2016

JASPER-A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Mitchell Cemetery, east of Jasper, for Paul Lester Ritchhart, 85, Jasper, who died Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016. Full military rites will be conducted.

Arrangements are under the direction of Weng Funeral Chapel.

Online condolences may be made at www.wengfuneralchapel.com.

Survivors include his children, Michael of Jasper, Dana of California, Byron of Nevada and Stephanie of Arizona; a brother, Russell and wife Kathy; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Raymond and his wife, Marnie.

Mr. Ritchhart was born Aug. 7, 1931, in Jasper and lived there many years of his life. He was a graduate of Jasper High School. His parents, Lester and Irene Ritchhart, reared him and his two brothers on the farm. In 1948 he enlisted in the Marine Corps. During the Korean War he was one of the many Marines that fought in the battle of the Chosin Reservoir. There he was captured and held as a Prisoner of War for many months. He weighed 115 pounds when he finally made it back to the United States.

He was one of the “Chosin Few” and one of the four state heroes. He was the first life member of the Jasper VFW. He was also a member of the Jasper Masonic Lodge, a Shriner and a member of the Scottish Rite.

He sold his truck and retired from truck driving to his Jasper farm, where he was able to live a fulfilled life of retirement.