George Arliss Ritchie

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UNICOI - George A. Ritchie, age 84, Unicoi, passed away Tuesday, April 27, 2021 in the Johnson City Medical Center. He was a son of the late John K. and Hattie Love Ritchie.

George was born and raised in Stoney Creek but had lived in Unicoi most of his life. He was a 1955 graduate of Unaka High School where he played basketball and was known as Mr. Unaka or Hopper. He also attended Milligan College where he was the high jump champion. George was in US Army Reserves attending boot camp in Fort Jackson, SC.

George retired from Flav-O-Rich Dairy after thirty years of service. He was a member of the Unicoi Masonic Lodge # 681, Unicoi Shrine Club, Unicoi Ruritan Club, Watauga Valley Railroad Historical Society, and served as the election commissioner in Unicoi for many years. He enjoyed watching his grandsons play ball and was known to many as “Daddy George”.

George was a faithful member of Unicoi United Methodist Church where he belonged to the New Beginnings Sunday School Class and sang in the choir.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers: Bill, Gebe, and Gene Ritchie; two sisters: Mary Lou Scott and Linda Littleton.

George leaves behind to cherish his memory, his loving wife of fifty-seven years, Nancy Seward Ritchie; two daughters: Ronda Simpson and husband, Rob, Sharon Slagle and husband, Donnie; three grandchildren: Connor Simpson, Clay Simpson, Lucas Slagle; brother-in-law and sisters-in-law: Randall and Gail Seward, Joann Ritchie; many special nieces, nephews, and cousins also survive.

The family will receive friends from 4:00-6:00 PM Saturday, May 1, 2021 at the Unicoi United Methodist Church New Life Center. Funeral service will follow at 6:00 PM. Dr. Mike Pinner will officiate. Pallbearers will be Connor Simpson, Clay Simpson, Lucas Slagle, Steve Scott, David Scott, Mike Scott, and Bart Ritchie. Committal service will be held at 2:00 PM Sunday, May 2, 2021 in Happy Valley Memorial Park, Elizabethton.

George married Nancy Katherine Seward on 15 Jun 1963 in Unicoi County, , , Tennessee. Nancy (daughter of Frank J. Seward and Living) was born about 1941 in , Sullivan County, Tennessee, ; died on 11 Mar 2023 in , Unicoi County, Tennessee, ; was buried in Happy Valley Memorial Park, Carter County, Tennessee, . [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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ERWIN - Sharon Kay Ritchie Slagle, age 50, Erwin, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus on Wednesday, January 5, 2022. She was born on December 25, 1971, in Johnson City, Tennessee. Sharon is a daughter of Nancy Seward Ritchie and the late George Arliss Ritchie.
She was a proud member of the Unicoi County Lady Devil’s Basketball Team from 1986 until her graduation in 1990. Sharon earned her BS Degree in Elementary Education and her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Development from East Tennessee State University. She began her teaching career at Rock Creek Elementary School where she taught first grade for several years. Then, Sharon started teaching Pre-K at the Community Learning Center with Unicoi County School System. Later, Sharon became the Director of Pre-K Program with the Unicoi County School System. She attended Evergreen Freewill Baptist Church for several years.
Sharon coached the Unicoi County Middle School Lady Devil’s Basketball Team. She loved watching her son, the light of her life play football, basketball and baseball for the Unicoi County Blue Devils. Sharon attended all his ballgames as well as her nieces and nephews sporting events. She was a loving and devoted wife, mom, daughter, sister, aunt, teacher and friend. Sharon will be greatly missed by her family and everyone who knew her. The impact Sharon’s short life made on others will be remembered forever and live on for generations to come. Heaven gained an angel.
In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Frank and Florence Seward and her paternal grandparents, John K. and Hattie Love Ritchie; father-in-law, Donnie Slagle.
Sharon leaves behind to cherish many wonderful memories of her, husband of twenty-seven years, Donnie Slagle; her son, Lucas Slagle, of the home; mother, Nancy Seward Ritchie; sister, Ronda Simpson and husband, Rob; mother-in-law, Tonette Jones and husband, Glenn; sister-in-law, Saundra Miller and husband, Dave; Uncle Randall Seward and wife, Gail; Aunt Joann Ritchie; nieces and nephews: Sydney Miller, Shelby Dean Miller, Joshua Miller, Connor Simpson and Clay Simpson; many very special cousins, friends and co-workers also survive.
The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, January 8, 2022, at Evergreen Freewill Baptist Church. A celebration of Sharon’s life will be held at 2:00 P.M. with Pastor Noah Taylor officiating. Interment will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Connor Simpson, Clay Simpson, Rob Simpson, Joshua Miller, Dave Miller and Josh Seward. Honorary pallbearer will be John English.