Jeanne Ritter Kennedy

Jeanne Ritter Kennedy, 89, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, died February 17, 2016. She was born January 6, 1927, in Hobart, OK, to John Henry Ritter and Ellen Tripzone Hart Ritter. In addition to graduating at the top of her high school class in 1945, she was asked by the principal to teach junior high classes during her senior year because of a teacher shortage during the war. She graduated as a registered nurse from the Oklahoma Nursing School Cadet Nurse Program in 1948, and was Assistant Head Nurse at University Hospital in Oklahoma City. In 1950, she was recruited to establish a maternity ward from the ground up at Tinker Air Force Base in Midwest City, OK. As a civilian nurse attached to the Air Force, Jeanne was Head Nurse and Supervisor there for four years. She was a pioneer in teaching some of the first natural childbirth classes in the state of OK. Jeanne was asked to come to Bitburg, Germany, in 1954 to establish a similar maternity ward for the 7424 USAF Hospital. While she was in Germany, she met and married Dr. George R. Kennedy. George, born in Wisconsin, was on active duty at the Air Force base as a Captain and as Chief of Surgery. When they returned to the United States, they settled in Bartlesville, OK, where George established his practice as a physician and surgeon and where they raised their family. Jeanne was an active volunteer in her children’s schools and served as a docent for Woolaroc Museum. She was also a member of the Junior League of Bartlesville, a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and a member of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of OK, where she served as Historian and Secretary. After George’s retirement in 1986, they moved to Virginia Beach, VA. There Jeanne once again became a civilian nurse attached to the United States Armed Forces, this time the Navy. She was the Triage Nurse for Oceana Branch Health Clinic and trained medical corpsmen. She was awarded the honor of Civilian of the Quarter several times. In recent years, she and George moved back to Tulsa to be closer to family. In addition to her parents, Jeanne was preceded in death by her husband of almost 60 years, Dr. George R. Kennedy, by her three brothers, LaFayette Ritter, Carroll Ritter, and Moses Ritter, and by her five sisters, Jane Ritter, Ada Conley, Rachel Ballou Strong, Patricia Brown and Loreita Hayden. She is survived by her four daughters, Mary Cook (Dr. Paul Cook) of Red Lodge, MT; Margaret Stooker (James Stooker) of Little Rock, AR; Jane Radoszewski (Andrew Radoszewski) of Tallahassee, FL; and Dr. Grace Kennedy of Tulsa, OK. She is also survived by four grandchildren, John Cook (Jamie Cook) of Arlington, VA; Laura Cook Blond (Henry Blond) of Nye, MT; Elissa Stooker Andre (Nick Andre) of Los Angeles, CA; Michael Radoszewski of Tallahassee, FL; two great-grandchildren, Stephen Cook and Elena Cook of Arlington, VA, and numerous nieces and nephews. A private family service was held.

Jeanne Ritter Kennedy

January 6, 1927 - February 17, 2016