William "Bill" Alexander Ritch, 62, passed away Saturday, October 23, 2021 surrounded byhis wife, Stacy and Daughter Lilly. Bill was born in Kinston, NC on November 19,1958.

He grew up like most eastern North Carolinians, fishing and hunting with his friends and family. Bill played football and swam competitively through high school and held the NC record for breaststroke for many years. In addition, Bill was a dedicated Boy Scout and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. During high school, Bill had the chance to work alongside his dad at the Western Auto store that his Father owned in Kinston. After graduating from Kinston High School in 1977, he continued his education, attending East Carolina University and graduated from NC Wesleyan College. Bill was an ECU Pirate through and through and was one of the founders of the BetaTheta Pi chapter at ECU. Bill fell in love and married his wife Stacy Keith on March 5, 2005 at Kiawah Island, SC. He was a devoted husband and loving father to Lillian Stacy Ritch. Lilly was and will forever be the apple of his eye. Bill cherished his relationships and fun family trips with his sisters Rena and Stella. He was not only a devoted son and brother but a devoted uncle to his nieces and nephews. Bill was a loving and patient man that brought a calmness to his friends and family, along with a great sense of humor. He enjoyed a wide range of interests from reading the daily newspaper, watching sports, going on beach trips, and he especially took great pleasure in fishing trips with his father and daughter Lilly. He most enjoyed just being with Stacy and Lilly which was his true passion for living.

Bill was preceded in death by his loving and devoted mother Mary MacDonald “MaryMac”Kear Ritch of Kinston. In addition to his wife and daughter Lilly, Bill is survived by daughters, Sophie Ritch of Dallas, TX and Emma Young Gudis of New York, NY; his father, Orice "Buddy" Alexander Ritch, Jr. of Kinston, NC; sisters, Rena Ritch Norcross (Mark) of High Point, NC and Stella Ritch Nelson (Neill) of Rocky Mount, NC, and nieces and nephews Carson (Natalie)Norcross and Katherine N. Bisagni (Alessandro), Laurie M. McLaurin (Patrick) and H. Bowen McRainey (Madison).

A private memorial service for close friends and family will be held at 1pm Friday, October 29,2021 at Westminster United Methodist Church,1001 Westminster Lane, Kinston, NC 28501. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Westminster United Methodist Church, P.O. Box1007, Kinston, NC 28503;The American Red Cross Coastal Chapter,3531 Pampas Drive, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577; orRedcrossblood.org