Dr. John Ritter

Dr. John Lynn Ritter, 42, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, March 28, 2005, at his home.

He was born Jan. 22, 1963, in St. Louis, son of Dr. Raymond A. and Ann Wescoat Ritter Jr. He and Karlyle Kaye Christian were married Nov. 29, 1986, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Poplar Bluff, Mo.

Dr. Ritter went to medical school at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, served an internship at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, did his residency in radiology at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., and had a Pediatric Radiology Fellowship at Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in St. Louis.

He practiced eight years with Litton and Giddings Radiology Associates in Springfield, Mo., prior to retiring for health reasons.

Dr. Ritter was a member of Society of Pediatric Radiology, Society of Pediatric Neuroradiology, Radiology Society of North America and the Wednesday Afternoon Board. He was a sponsor of the Wild Turkey Federation and a member of multiple conservation groups.

He was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, and an assistant scout master of Boy Scout Troop 4.

He is survived by his wife, Dr. Karlyle K. Christian-Ritter of Cape Girardeau; two daughters, Jessie Lynn Ritter, 12, and Abby Renee Ritter, 9; parents, Dr. Raymond A. and Ann Wescoat Ritter Jr. of Cape Girardeau; two brothers, Dr. Raymond August Ritter III of Cape Girardeau, and Special Agent Brian Wescoat Ritter of St. Charles, Mo.

Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Parish prayers will be at 7.

Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Vincent de Paul Church, with Monsignor Tom Reidy and the Rev. Tom Kiefer officiating. Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park.

Memorials may be made to Catholic Campus Ministry or to the children of Saint Francis Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.