Margaret E. Ritter 1929-2022

She was born Aug. 2, 1929, in Lowellville, the daughter of Mary Elizabeth Marzinko Papp and Alex J. Papp Sr. Formerly of Youngstown and Newark, Calif., Margaret had been a Kinsman resident since 1993. She finished high school and attended Choffin School of Nursing.

On Aug.2, 1947, she married Thomas Peter Ritter, whom she met at the bakery she worked at and he kept coming in daily to order a jelly doughnut until she agreed to a date with him.

Margaret was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church of Kinsman and formerly a member of St. Edward Catholic Church of Youngstown. Besides raising her family, she was the cook for St. Edward’s Convent before becoming a baker for Giant Eagle.

She was devoted to her family and was sure to crochet a blanket for each of her children and grandchildren. Margaret enjoyed gardening, was a gifted musician, and playing the piano was her favorite form of relaxation. She traveled all over the U.S., enjoyed cooking, baking, painting and keeping up on her favorite soap operas. One to always help out others, Margaret and her husband sponsored a family of nine from Vietnam, opening their home to them for six months and helping them become U.S. citizens.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 52 years, Tom; a daughter, Suzanne M. Ritter; two sons, Daniel S. Ritter and James E. Ritter; two grandchildren, Veronica Vigorito and Brian Cleckner; great-grandson, Jaythian Reynolds; a sister, Mary Jane Kumrow; and five brothers, Alex Jr., Stephen, Edgar, Laddie and Samuel Papp.

Survivors include seven children, Thomas H. Ritter of Alexandria, Va., Margaret Ann Cleckner of Struthers, Charmaine A. (Joe) Jabr of Morgan Hill, Calif., Cathleen L. DeMarco of Kinsman, Mark C. Ritter of Niles, Mary E. (Steve) Shambaugh of Newark, Calif., and Judy M. Reynolds of Youngstown; two brothers, Albert Papp of Brookfield and James (Sue) Papp of Springfield; sister-in-law, Helen Nogay of Hermitage, Pa.; 26 grandchildren; 49 great-grandchildren; and 13 great-great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be noon Friday, March 4, 2022, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 6397 state Route 87, Kinsman, with the Rev. Michael A. Mikstay, CAPT. CHC, USN Ret. officiating. Burial will follow in Kinsman Cemetery. Calling hours will be 10:30 to 11:50 Friday, March 4, 2022, at Baumgardner Funeral & Cremation Service, 8569 Main St., Kinsman.

Share a fond memory or condolence at www.baumgardnerfuneralhome.com.

(special notice)