Funeral services for Vernon Keith Ritz, of Brookhaven, are today, July 17, 2018, at 2 p.m. at Riverwood Family Funeral Service in Brookhaven with burial at Easthaven Cemetery.

Visitation was held Monday, July 16, 2018, from 5 until 9 p.m. at the funeral home.

Mr. Ritz, 75, died Friday, July 13, 2018, at his residence. He was born Dec. 23, 1942, to the late Vernon Evan Ritz and Margaret Irene Upton Ritz. He served in the United States Army in Germany, Hawaii, Georgia and Kentucky. He was a member of Bogue Chitto Assembly of God Church and a retired telephone technician for Bell South. He was a Freemason and enjoyed fishing, hunting and gardening

Preceding him in death were his parents; daughter, Kimberly Ritz; brother, Lindell Ritz; and sister, Virginia Etheridge.

Survivors are his wife of 54 ½ years, Peggy Hux Ritz; daughters, Rhonda Ritz Slocumb and husband, Brian, and Peggy Lynn Stephenson; sisters, Sharon Brackett, Judy Boutwell and husband, Maxie, and June Ritz; five grandchildren, Stacy Birdwell and husband, James, Emily Lambert and husband, Dennis, Christian Brown, Erika Clayton, Brandon Clayton; five great-grandchildren, Jack Lambert, Emma Lambert, Kinley Birdwell, Karley Birdwell, Fallon Birdwell Westerfield and husband Curtis; and great-great- grandchild, Lindsey Westerfield.

In lieu of flowers donation’s can be made to the Gideon’s International or The Wounded Warrior Project.

To express your thoughts to the family, visit riverwoodfamily.com and click on his name to leave a comment.