Carl B. Ritter

Carl Bruno Ritter, 81, of Conrad Rd., Willet, lost his battle with lung cancer on Monday, February 23, 2009.

Carl was the first born of a set of twins to his parents, Walter Hermann and Marie Edler Ritter on January 23, 1928, in the Town of Haarlem, The Netherlands. After attending school and living in Europe during WWII, he worked for the Dutch government on reclaiming land from the Zeider Zee. He built roads, ditches, dikes, canals, shaped fields, and then worked on those fields to get the salt out of the soil so it was productive.

He emigrated to the U.S. on May 5, 1955 (5-5-55) and became a U.S. citizen on August 20, 1963. Working on dairy farms and on construction with his beloved bulldozers, he and his brother rented farms in New Jersey. In 1976, the brothers purchased a dairy farm in Freetown. In 1982, the Ritter Brothers were awarded Cortland County Conservation Farmer of the Year. In 1983, they were awarded the NYS Conservation Farmer of the Year. Carl was a longtime member of NYS Farm Bureau and was the county Farm Bureau representative as a director on the Cortland County Soil & Water Conservation District Board for 26 years. He served on, and was chairman for, the FSA Board.

Carl was a member of the Killawog United Methodist Church. He was a 25-year member this year of the Marathon Lodge #438 Free & Accepted Masons of the State of NY; Master of the Lodge in 2004; and then appointed Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge du Senegal, Africa, on May 31, 2007. He was famous for his enthusiasm for the Mason's monthly chicken barbecues, running the dishwasher at the Maple Festival each year, and his potato peeling ability. He joined the Otselic Valley Lodge #659 F&AM in 2007. In 1989, Carl joined the Marathon Chapter #101 Order of the Eastern Star of the State of NY. He served as Patron with Worthy Rayma Jean Pendell from 2001-2002.

A lifelong bachelor, he married Eleanor Smith Wilson on December 16, 1984. They enjoyed their 24 years together. Getting out of dairy farming in 1998, they traveled widely and then in 2003, they got involved in raising their beloved beef cattle. He will be missed by many people but most of all, Molly, his border collie, will miss those trips in the pick-up truck where she was "Queen" of all she surveyed.

Carl is survived by his wife, Eleanor; his twin brother, Walter (Maria) Ritter of Freetown, brothers, Henk (Ali) Ritter of Heemskerk, The Netherlands, Helmut (Netta) Ritter of Valkenswaard, The Netherlands, and a sister-in-law, Jos Ritter-Koch of The Netherlands. He was predeceased by his brother, Ernst. He is survived by many nieces and nephews living here and in The Netherlands. His helping ability and big smile will be sorely missed by his many friends and all who loved him.

A memorial service for Carl will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. at the Cortlandville Masonic Lodge, Route 13, Cortland, with Fred M.S. Downs officiating. Immediately following the memorial service, there will be a time of fellowship and refreshments, followed by a visitation period until 3:00 p.m. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Carl may be directed to Envirothon, c/o Soil & Water Conservation District, 100 Grange Place, Cortland, NY 13045, or the Marathon Lodge #438 F&AM, P.O. Box 62, Killawog, NY 13794. Arrangements have been entrusted to the K.L. Sharp Funeral Home, Cincinnatus, NY.