Happy 99th birthday, Daddy.  You are missed.  Always.

Happy 7th anniversary in Heaven, Daddy.  Also my 7th wedding anniversary. Miss you!!!!

Love,
Dolly

Happy 97th birthday in Heaven, Daddy.  Miss you and mom always!

Dolly

It's been 4 years now, Daddy, since you moved home.  Today is my 4th wedding anniversary as well.  Thinking of you on my happy day.  We love and miss you.
Dolly

Miss you every day, Daddy!
Dolly

You will always be remembered as a consummate gentleman and scholar. My surgical skills were developed under you and I will always be grateful.
It we meet again.

Merry Christmas in Heaven, Daddy!  Love you and miss you every day.

Well, it has now been 3 years since your passing, Daddy. This is always a bittersweet day for me.  It is my 3rd wedding anniversary and the 3rd anniversary of your death.  My happiest day was marred by sadness. We still mourn your loss.  You do not get over the loss of a loved one. You just continue on your journey until you see each other again. You are thought of and missed every day.  Love you, Daddy!!!!

Dolly

"I Hope You Dance"

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
GOD forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance....I hope you dance.

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin' might mean takin' chances but they're worth takin',
Lovin' might be a mistake but it's worth makin',
Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter,
When you come close to sellin' out reconsider,
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along,
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone.)

Happy Birthday in Heaven, Daddy!  Love and miss you every day.

This is a tribute left on Facebook by my daughter Jennifer Tolson two years ago right after Daddy passed over. I thought I should share now. We love and miss you Daddy! Always. The pain does not go away or get better with time. We just continue on........

Ok so i kno i havent been on facebook much the last 2 weeks or so..havent been able to get on much actually and a lot has happened in tht time..
My wonderful Mommy got married last saturday..and yes i made it thru pregnant and didnt hav a baby lol..it was a beautiful day and the ceremony was just as beautiful!! Congrats to my Mom and her new husband..welcome to the family..my baby brother and i now hav more people to share our craziness with!! Lol but i did get to spend a fabulous weekend with my wonderful family and share some good times with some great people..thanks for making my Moms wedding so great!!
Unfortunately with the happy times comes bad news and sorrow for my family as well..we found out this week tht my grandfather has passed away!! The saddest part is tht he died on my moms wedding day..but we were not actually told about his death until tuesday!! I am still in so much shock tht i cant bring myself to even believe its real..i dont want to believe its real!! I hav these small moments where i cry alone when no one is around or watching but then i stop myself bcuz i kno if i dont tht i will not be able to hold it all in anymore..and i hav to keep it together for my mom bcuz i dont want her upset or worried about me when my heart just breaks for her!! And im so angry at the same time and i hav to keep tht locked up too!! My grandfather was a good man..the best man..and the best grandfather..he was the strongest man i knew and even tho his physical strength faded over the years he still had tht amazing strength inside him tht i remember as a lil girl!! I miss him so much already and i cant bring myself to accept tht hes not here with me anymore..i want my Papa!!

Happy Birthday in Heaven, Daddy!  Miss you and LOVE YOU always.

Today is a sad day.  59 years ago, I was brought for the first time to the home of Hugh and Harriette Ritter as a 6 week old infant to be placed for adoption.  Daddy would call me on this day to wish me Happy Birthday as this is my birthday with them......  Wish he could still call......

I Did Not Die

Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there, I did not die.

God's Garden

God looked around his garden
And found an empty place,
He then looked down upon the earth
And saw your tired face.
He put his arms around you
And lifted you to rest.
God’s garden must be beautiful
He always takes the best.
He knew that you were suffering
He knew you were in pain.
He knew that you would never
Get well on earth again.
He saw the road was getting rough
And the hills were hard to climb.
So he closed your weary eyelids
And whispered, ‘Peace be thine’.
It broke our hearts to lose you
But you didn’t go alone,
For part of us went with you
The day God called you home.
–Anonymous

A year has now come and gone since Daddy has passed - the year of firsts - first Thanksgiving, first Christmas, first birthday, etc.  So, I light the first candle to represent our grief.  I light the second candle to represent our courage to confront our sorrow. I light the third candle in your memory for all the times we had together. The fourth candle I light for our love - your light will always shine..........  We love you and we miss you.........

"If there ever comes a time when we can't be together,
Keep me in your heart, I'll stay there forever."

Winnie the Pooh (AA Milne)

The day after Christmas, December 26, 2014, we lost my dad's brother, Paul Ritter, MD.  I was fortunate to be able to spend some time with the family and say my goodbyes to my dear Uncle Paul. I know Daddy was there to greet Paul as he transitioned to Heaven. I was also able to reconnect with family members I had not seen in decades. My cousin, Missy McCoy, is also a "daddy's girl" so we grieve together in the loss of both our fathers.  So, Missy, to honor the men we love - our husbands, Tim and Tom and our beloved daddies - Hugh and Paul, I leave the words to a song composed by John Denver - Perhaps Love.

Perhaps love is like a resting place
A shelter from the storm
It exists to give you comfort
It is there to keep you warm
And in those times of trouble
When you are most alone
The memory of love will bring you home
Perhaps love is like a window
Perhaps an open door
It invites you to come closer
It wants to show you more
And even if you lose yourself
And don't know what to do
The memory of love will see you through
Oh, love to some is like a cloud
To some as strong as steel
For some a way of living
For some a way to feel
And some say love is holding on
And some say letting go
And some say love is everything
And some say they don't know
Perhaps love is like the ocean
Full of conflict, full of pain
Like a fire when it's cold outside
Or thunder when it rains
If I should live forever
And all my dreams come true
My memories of love will be of you
Songwriters: J DENVER

As Christmas approaches, I think of this - my first Christmas without him - and am saddened. We held a memorial service the beginning of November at his beloved St. Mary's Health Center. I so appreciate all those who were able to attend and pay their last respects to Daddy. Merry Christmas, Daddy!  I love you and I miss you forever.

Dolly.......

Dr. Hugh Ritter had so many accomplishments in his lifetime there is hardly space or time sufficient to remember them all. Hugh was a nationally recognized physician, having served as president of the Missouri Medical Association and the Board of the American Medical Association for 10 years. He delivered hundreds of babies in his years of practice and served as Chief of Staff in OB at St. Mary's hospital. He spent many late nights and early mornings at the hospital taking care of his patients and never concerned if it was a weekend or holiday. Even with his busy career as a physician, he shared his spare time with his family and friends and supported numerous community groups. He was an accomplished sportsman and was a nationally ranked skeet shooter. He shared his passion of duck hunting with me and provided many memorable experiences for me hunting ducks, upland birds and deer. Later in life he took up golf and became quite good at that as well. Most of all I will always remember him for having the knowledge and experience to recognize that Lisa was in distress prior to delivery of our daughter, Jennifer, and recommended Lisa enter the hospital early. Luckily his judgment was correct as Jennifer had the cord wrapped around her neck 4 times. Had he not had that wisdom, Jen may not be here today. He was a man larger than life and will be missed by many. He was a dear friend. May he rest in peace.