Mary Louise Ritter

Mary Louise O’Neil Ritter, 85, passed away in Decatur, GA on December 21, 2017. Born April 28, 1932, in Boston, Massachusetts, she was the daughter of the late Arthur O'Neil and Eleanor Lamb O'Neil. She graduated from Newton High school with dreams of being an actress. She briefly lived in New York City, then returned to Boston and met William Ritter, Harvard University graduate, who later received his Ph.D. from MIT in mathematics. They were married in1957. Lovers of the outdoors and travel, after living in Boston and Newton, MA, they traveled and camped throughout the United States and Canada with their growing family. They also lived and worked in Hanover, NH, Seattle, WA, Stockton, CA, and finally settled in Terre Haute, IN, in 1971, where Bill became the chair of the mathematics department at Rose Hulman. Mary Lou received her Master's degree in psychology from Indiana State University and began her career in social counseling. Despite a long term illness of her husband, she remained a devoted and supportive wife, and they moved to Indianapolis in 1987, where Mary Lou became superintendent of the Indianapolis Women’s Work Release center. After she retired, she continued contract work with ACA Prison Accreditation. She also worked as an election official, and a Catholic Charities volunteer. She took several post retirement trips to Europe, including touring France by bicycle in her 70's. In 2012 she moved to Decatur, GA.

She is survived by her children: John and his spouse, Jeanine, of Wichita, KS, Stefan and his spouse, Muffy Blue, of Decatur, GA, Mary Beth Walter and her spouse, Kenneth, of Hartford, CT, and Sara and her spouse, Karen Moore, of Terre Haute, IN; brother, William O’Neil of Midlothian, VA; eight grandchildren: Julie, Brian, Elisabeth, Allison, Annessa, Zachary, Lexi, and Ellie; and three great-grandchildren: Logan, Talitha, and Lydia.

In addition to her parents, Mary Lou was preceded in death by her husband, William Ernest Ritter.

Floral tributes should be sent to A.S. Turner and Sons Funeral Home, 2773 N. Decatur Road, Decatur, GA 30033.

Feel free to leave the family your condolences via the guestbook provided.