Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

Rose Kambegian Ritchey passed away Friday, January 4 at 8:05 p.m. at Walter Reed. The cause was congestion of the lungs and heart failure. She was 93.

Rose was born July 3, 1919 in Methuen, Mass., the youngest child of Martin and Zabel Kambegian. She graduated from Methuen High School in 1938, the worst year of the Depression. Jobs were very scarce and temporary. Rose took what she could until she found steady employment with the Tyre Rubber Company in North Andover during the war. The immediate termination of contracts after VJ Day caused management to dismiss the entire work force without notice.

She found employment at the Meadowbrook Laundry in North Andover, where she worked days, and took courses at the McIntosh School at night. Rose graduated in 1952. After interviewing her in Boston, the Central Intelligence Agency offered her a position. That year she moved to Washington, DC. to work as an administrative assistant at headquarters.

In 1954 she married Master Sergeant Robert H. Ritchey, USAF. In the fall of 1955 the newlyweds were transferred west. Their first child, David, was born at Ft. Carson, Colorado. The new family was soon transferred to NATO duty in Izmir, Turkey. After two years they were returned to Washington, D.C. 

Rose bore two more children, Tina (1959) and Robert (1960). But she was energetic and talented, and went back to work in 1962, first for the Real Estate Office at Bolling AFB, DC, then the Judge Advocate General of the Air Force, at the Pentagon, where she earned the Distinguished Service Award, from 1965 to 1983.

Rose remained an optimist even when life landed hard blows on her. She was kind and forgiving, always faithful to her country and her church. Everyone will miss her. Rest in peace, dear Mother.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, January 10, 2013 from 10am until time of services at 12noon at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, 5203 St. Barnabas Rd., Temple Hills,MD. Interment will follow at the church cemetery. 

Please leave your thoughts and memoires by signing the guestbook located above.

Rose Ritchey

Rose Ritchey

Send Flowers