01/10/2026
Jason E. Ritchie, age 51, of Auburn, quietly slipped out the back door of this world on Thursday, January 8, 2026. Born on March 4, 1974, to Billy “Bill” and Lillian Ritchie, Jason arrived as the third child and only son. He was the long-awaited crown jewel, the tie breaker, and the one who would bravely attempt to fix anything with a motor, a plug, or a questionable rattle. Success was never guaranteed, but his patience was endless and his determination legendary, qualities he clearly inherited from parents who spent ten years trying to land the plane with a son and produced three children spaced neatly five years apart. From the very beginning, he carried a steady presence that made life feel a little more grounded for everyone around him.
A lifelong DeKalb County resident, Jason was a proud graduate of the DeKalb High School Class of 1992. He mastered the art of doing exactly what needed to be done, no more and no less, and he always carried a quiet smirk that suggested he knew something you did not.
Jason spent his working years doing what he did best. He showed up, worked hard, and never made a fuss about it. He put in time at Nucor Fasteners, Rieke Corporation, and most recently C&A Tool Engineering. He was known for his reliability, his steady determination, and a boundless patience with people, offered to those he loved and to the occasional soul who tested that patience so thoroughly it could have been considered an endurance sport.
Jason was also a faithful member of Auburn Presbyterian Church, where he once served as a deacon. His faith grounded him and connected him to a church family he genuinely cherished. He was never loud about his beliefs. Jason was not loud about much. Instead, he lived his faith with the same quiet consistency he brought to everything else.
He cherished time spent with his family. His devotion to his parents as their caregiver was one of the clearest expressions of his love. Jason also showed love through food. He smoked meats with the seriousness of a man preparing for a county fair competition. He guarded the family recipes like state secrets. He served as the unofficial historian of Ritchie folklore, retelling stories steeped in Appalachian roots with the perfect blend of accuracy, exaggeration, and charm.
Jason grew up cheering for Reds baseball. He rooted for Purdue Boilermakers basketball, partly to keep the household arguments lively. He remained a Pittsburgh Steelers loyalist to the very end rarely missing a chance to support his teams, and rarely missing a chance to rub it in your face when one of them beat yours. This was a spiritual gift he exercised with great enthusiasm and absolutely no remorse.
He also had a lifelong love affair with Jeep Wranglers. Jason owned more than one over the years, each one driven with the pride of a man who believed a vehicle should be both fun and capable of climbing a mountain if the mood struck, but the mood never struck because… dents or scratches.
Jason leaves behind his mother, Lillian Ritchie of Auburn. He also leaves behind his sisters, Tammy Corey of Wi******er, Virginia, and Laura Gerald of Amissville, Virginia. His nieces, Diedre Matheny, Anneke van Straten, Kyndall Gerald, Skyler Gerald, and Claire Gerald will forever miss his steady presence, his dry humor, and his ability to make a meal feel like a family reunion.
He was preceded in death by his father, Billy “Bill” Ritchie. Bill is no doubt thrilled to have Jason nearby again, the son shaped by his teachings returning to him like a story circling home through the hills, carrying the same boundless patience he once showed not only for broken things but for the people he loved.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 17, 2026, with visitation from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Auburn Presbyterian Church, 112 West 12th Street, Auburn. Rev. David Lawrence will officiate. Burial will take place in the Jason Ritchie Cemetery in Knott County, Kentucky. It is a fitting resting place for a man who carried his Appalachian heritage with pride.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or Parkview Hospice.
Jason lived simply, loved quietly, and worked hard. He never needed attention to make an impact. He will be remembered for his loyalty, his grit, his storytelling, his smoked meats, his unwavering sports loyalties, and the way he made the people around him feel steady and safe.
