EDDY DEAN RITCHIE, age 52, of the Stroh/Hudson area, died on Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at St. Joseph Hospital, Fort Wayne following a sudden and unexpected illness. Mr. Ritchie was born in LaGrange, Indiana on November 3, 1958 to Edmond Dean Ritchie and Maudie (Handshoe) Ritchie. His father died September 11, 1986. He married Sharon Campbell on July 7, 1979 at the Church of God in Stroh. Eddy worked in the sanitation department at Kraft Foods in Kendallville for about 15 years. Eddy loved Ford trucks, hunting and fishing. He was an avid sports fan and loved to watch University of Kentucky basketball. His pride and joy was his new grandson, Waylon. In the past, Eddy was involved in coaching his kid’s Stroh Little League baseball and softball teams for a number of years. Survivors include: His wife of 31 years, Sharon Ritchie of Hudson. His son and daughter-in-law, Lukas and Megan Ritchie of LaGrange. His daughter and son-in-law, Abby and Clint Sites of Stroh. Grandson, Waylon James Ritchie. Mother, Maudie Ritchie of Stroh. Sister, Reavel Crawford of Wolcottville. Sister and brother-in-law, Connie and Jack Pipher of Wolcottville. Father and mother-in-law, James and Annette Campbell of LaGrange. He was preceded in death by his brother, Gordon Ray Hicks. Visitation will be Saturday, February 12, 2011 from 4:00-8:00pm at Hite Funeral Home, 403 South Main Street in Kendallville. Funeral services will be Sunday, February 13, 2011 at 11:00am at Helmer Independent Baptist Church in Helmer. Officiating the funeral service will be Eddy’s life-long friend, Pastor Rick Davis, of the Helmer Independent Baptist Church. Burial will be at Woodruff Cemetery near Wolcottville in LaGrange County. Send a Condolence to the family of Eddy at _www.hitefuneralhome.com_ (http://www.hitefuneralhome.com/)