Obituary of Earl Ritchie

Earl Ritchie (Bee) passed away on June 24, 2014 at the age of 28 after a long battle with cancer. His wife Becky was by his side at James H Quillen VAMC, when he took his last breath. Raised in Coeburn, Virginia, Bee joined the Army National Guard at 17 years of age and at age 19, his boots touched Iraq soil where he served a year's tour of duty. Bee was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 22, starting our next battle, with cancer. Becky stayed by his side. The day they found out, she married him. Family and military meant everything to him. He was preceded in death by his father, Jimmy Ritchie. In addition to his loving wife he is survived by his mother, Carolyn Culbertson and several cousins, aunts, uncles, many-many friends and his pet Boston Terrier, Piggy. The family will receive friends from 10:30am to 12 noon on Monday, June 30, 2014 at Scott County Funeral Home, Weber City, VA. A graveside service will follow at 1pm at Mountain Home National Cemetery, Mountain Home, TN with military graveside rites presented by his brothers in arms from the Virginia Army National Guard. Pallbearers will be Thomas Lovell, Brandon Monroe, Shawn Sullivan, John Adams, Timmy Jones and Cody Watts.