Joe Ritchey of Lindsay, Oklahoma, departed this life on Wednesday, August 1, 2012, at St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma at the age of 79. Joe was born on December 12, 1932, in Kozenna, Poland. He married Virginia Stearman on August 3, 1956, in Tishomingo, Oklahoma.

Joe came to the United States as a Polish refugee when he was 12 years old with the help of some friends in the Second Division of Battery “C”, 38th Field Artillery Battalion at the end of World War II. When the war broke out Joe was in the first grade. His village and home was destroyed by the Nazi forces. His father was called to active duty in the Polish Army and was later captured. His mother was killed and his two older sisters were made slave laborers. In 1943, at only 11 years old and orphaned, Joe was shipped to Germany in a box car and was forced to work on a German farm as a prisoner of war. In March, 1945, he was liberated by the Second Division and became their mascot. Joe planned to return to Poland on foot, but the officers and men of his adopted battery had other plans. They decided to smuggle him in a duffle bag aboard ship and take him back to America with them. Everything went according to plan, until a naval officer took notice of the men standing around a suspicious looking duffle bag. Joe was discovered and taken to the ship’s captain. The ship was already 75 miles out to sea and Joe refused to identify the men who brought him aboard so the captain continued on.

Once in the United States, he was adopted by one of the smugglers, Corporal Lee Roy Ritchey and his wife, Anita.

In 1953, Joe received his draft papers and citizenship papers. In that same year, he graduated from Tishomingo, Oklahoma, with honors in science. Joe later attended Murray State College and East Central University where he majored in Industrial Arts and minored in Social Studies. He received his Master’s degree from Southeastern University. Joe taught in Madill, Tuskahoma and Olive before moving to Lindsay in 1969. Joe was honored as Lindsay’s Teacher of the Year in 1984. He taught Industrial Arts and middle school classes until his retirement in 1997. He was a member of the St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Lindsay. He served his country in the U.S. Army and in the Oklahoma National Guard. Joe loved keeping his 1952 Mercury in top condition. He also enjoyed gardening and physical fitness.

Mr. Ritchey is survived by his wife, Virginia Ritchey of Lindsay; two daughters, Celeste Price of Seminole, Oklahoma and Regina Bear of Savannah, Georgia; one brother, Wendall Ritchey of Ardmore, Oklahoma; and his grandchildren, Afton Brauning of Seminole, Oklahoma, Alonna Price of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Jesse Bear of Savannah, Georgia; as well as two great-grandchildren, Breanna and Braelyn Brauning.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Lee Roy and Anita Ritchey.

Funeral services for Mr. Ritchey are set for 10 a.m. on Monday, August 6, 2012, at the St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Lindsay, Oklahoma, with Rev. Charles Woltz officiating.