Obituary: Thomas (Tom) Ritchie

Tom, as he was affectionately known by all, was the last member of a family of three sons and two daughters. He is survived by Isobel, his loving wife of 60 years, his three daughters Betty, Linda and Rhonda, his son Stephen, and by eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

For some time Tom worked for Ulster Transport as a bus conductor. At the same time he and his wife commenced their own businesses, in the form of their newspaper shop on the Ballymoney Road and a bakery on Ballymoney Street.

Tom’s warm personality and ready wit added charm to both enterprises, making them social centres as much as commercial premises.

The newsagents, in particular, was often a gathering place for many of his peers, not least at the weekend for the arrival of ‘The Pink’ - Ireland’s Saturday Night.

The property on the Ballymoney Road was later extended to include a car accessory business, which is currently under the proprietorship of their son, Stephen.

In his spare time, Tom was heavily involved in local sporting circles. In the 1960’s and 70’s, he sat on the Ballymena Football Club Committee and he was president of Ballymena Bowling Club in 1992.

Tom passed away on December 19 in Prospect Prviate Nursing Home and was interred in Ballee Cemetery on December 22 following his funeral service in Ballymena Free Presbyterian Church with which he and his wife had been associated for over 40 years.