Carol E. (Shipley) Ritchey

Mrs. Carol E. Ritchey, 72, of Everett, passed away at 6:58 AM, Sunday, January 4th, 2015 at UPMC Altoona Hospital.

Mrs. Ritchey was born in Bedford on Friday, July 17, 1942,  the daughter of the late Walter S. and Thelma (Crawford) Shipley.

She is survived by  Daughter- Christine A. wife of  Larry W. Mills, Breezewood; Son- Joseph A. Swartzwelder, Chaneysville; Daughter- Lenore Y. Swartzwelder, Severna Park, MD; Former Husband- Zane O. Swartzwelder, Chaneysville. She is also survived by two grandchildren, Jeremiah Swartzwelder & Talon Penniman. She was the last surviving member of her family and was preceded in death by four sisters, Reba Barnhart, Dorothy McCourt, infants, Pauline & Millie and by three brothers, Chester Shipley, Oscar Shipley & Wayne Shipley.

Carol became a woman of great faith and accepted Jesus as her Savior.  She was employed as a waitress at Ed's Steak House in Bedford and as a bartender at the Red Bat's Nest in Fulton County.  She also cleaned homes for families throughout Bedford County.  Carol was an avid reader and an exceptional cook. She loved any time she could spend in the kitchen.  If she wasn't cooking, she was gardening.  Carol was known to say that she loved getting her hands in the dirt.  In addition to tending to her beautiful flowers, she also cultivated a hearty vegetable garden, canning and preserving her bounty to be enjoyed year round.  Carol was a loving mother, grandmother, aunt and friend and she will be greatly missed.

A memorial service will be held at Jack H. Geisel Funeral Home, Inc., Everett at 2:00 PM on Thursday, January 8th, 2015 with Pastor Jonas Smith officiating.

Friends are invited to call on Thursday from 1:00 - 2:00 PM at the funeral home in Everett.

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