Russell Andrew Ritchey, age 80, of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away on Monday, June 29th, 2026. 

 

Russell was born May, 21st, 1946 to Lois and Andrew Ritchey in Lincoln, Nebraska. After graduating high school in Ashland, Nebraska, he joined the United States Air Force and served during the Vietnam War as an Avionics Technician. After discharging from the Air Force, he worked for a time for Lockheed, all over the United States as an Avionics engineer, before settling in Kansas City. In 1974, he married Rita Pearson, and they had son Ryan in 1978, and daughter Erin in 1980. 

 

In 1980, he took a job as a painter for the federal government, and in 1988 became self-employed as a painter, and remained self-employed until retirement. 

 

Russell had a lifelong passion for hunting, fishing, poker, and lively discussion. He could talk your ear off about several topics of which he was very knowledgeable, and more than a few topics that he was less than knowledgeable. It was up to you to figure out which. He also loved spending time with and spoiling his grandchildren. 

 

Russell was proceeded in death by his parents Lois and Andrew, brother Cory, and first wife Rita. He is survived by sons Ryan Ritchey and Steven Sluder, and daughter and son-in-law Erin and Charlie Harrison, grandchildren Ashley, Josh, Angela, Isaac, Caleb, Sam, and Rosemary, and by his second wife Jeanne. 

 

A memorial reception will be held at Antioch Bible Baptist Church in Gladstone, Missouri from 5-7pm on Thursday July 2nd. In lieu of flowers or donations, Russell would want you to buy some lottery scratch tickets and try to win big.