Ritchie Carson Langfield

Ritchie was born to Alvin Langfield and Dorothy (Ritchie) Langfield on March 12, 1938 in Berkeley, California. Ritchie grew up and went to school in Berkeley. He started his career in the frozen food business at an early age, working for his father’s frozen distributorship, Langfield Frozen Food Distributors.

After high school, Ritchie enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He served from May 1956 through April 1959. He was stationed in Laos in the early days of the Viet Nam conflict.

Upon returning from his tour of duty in the Marines, Ritchie decided to attend the University of Washington. He hitched a ride with a buddy to travel to Seattle. They spent the night in Eugene, where Ritchie decided this might be a good place to stay. His buddy went on to U of W, while Ritchie stayed in Eugene and attended the University of Oregon. While in Eugene, Ritchie worked as a bartender at a popular watering hole. He often mentioned serving beer during the infamous Columbus Day Storm of 1962. Ritchie graduated from U of O in 1963 with a Bachelors’ of Science.

Ritchie didn’t attend his graduation ceremony, as he was on his way to Burley, Idaho to go to work at Idaho Potato Processors. He was soon promoted and moved to the sales office in Boise, ID.

In 1966 Ritchie moved to Oakland, CA, where he met and fell in love with a neighbor in his apartment complex, Kathie Taylor. Kathie and Ritchie wed on April 20, 1968. Kathie worked as a nurse at Alta Bates hospital in Berkeley and Ritchie went to work at Avoset Foods, in Gustine, CA. In 1969 Ritchie took a job at Stewart Tucker, Inc in San Mateo, CA. He was promoted to Vice President of Frozen Foodservice Sales in 1974 and remained with Stewart Tucker until 1978. In 1972 Ritchie and Kathie bought a home in Lafayette, CA, where they welcomed their only child, Ritchie (Mack) Langfield. Both marveled at their new son. Ritchie coached Mack’s baseball, basketball and soccer teams through the years. The first year Ritchie coached soccer, he and the other coach knew nothing about the sport. They taught 22 little 6 year olds soccer from a beginner’s manual. Ritchie and Kathie separated in 1979, but remained close until his death.

Ritchie worked at Continental Processors in Lafayette, CA as Vice President, Foodservice from 1978 – 1989. From 1989 – 1995 he held the position of Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing at Norcal Crosetti Foods in Watsonville, CA. He continued to gain the respect of his colleagues and made lifetime friendships in the industry.

In 1995 Ritchie moved to Oregon. This proved to be a pivotal time in his life. Ritchie went to work for Norpac Food Sales, as Vice President of Business Development. Norpac is where he became friends with Susie (Schelb) Ball. Ritchie and Susie shared a similar sense of humor and a love for the outdoors. After 3 years of friendship, Susie took the bold move and asked Ritchie if there was something more than friendship going on. He told her he had been in love with her from the first day they met and pulled out a picture of Susie from his briefcase. It was taken on Halloween when Susie dressed as “The Devil With The Blue Dress On”. Both Ritchie and Susie would say of the other, “He/she changed my life”.

Ritchie and Susie married on October 2, 1999. Ritchie gained a stepdaughter, Angela Ball. All the best was yet to come. Angela married David Maroon in 2001. Angie and Dave welcomed daughters Reanna in 2003 and Megan in 2005. Dogs and grandchildren were the best part of Ritchie’s life. One of Susie’s nieces said, “If there is reincarnation, I want to come back as one of Ritchie’s dogs.” Ritchie’s heart overflowed with love for Reanna and Megan, as well as his grandnieces and grandnephews.

In April of 2000, Ritchie and long time friend and business associate, Roger Baker formed Strategic Partners, a frozen foods sales and marketing company. During this period Ritchie and Susie moved to Sisters, Oregon. Ritchie loved the area and walked with his dogs along logging roads and the Metolius River almost every day.

In 2007 Ritchie and Susie returned to the Portland area and settled in Camas, WA. This past February they moved to a smaller home they built in Washougal.

Ritchie and Susie enjoyed going to Kauai’, trips to FarMo on the Oregon coast and spending time with good friends and family. They were also working on visiting as many National Parks as possible.

In the last year, Ritchie would try to convince Angie that Reanna is bound for Stanford, saying, “She is too smart to go to a mediocre college. She needs something more!” Ritchie was so proud of Megan’s swimming accomplishments. He got a big kick out of Megan and would mimic her when she would say, “Wait!! What??” Reanna, Megan and Ritchie put together a dance routine to MC Hammer’s “Hammer Time”. They would hitch their pants way above their waists, hunch over and sing, “It’s Papa time!”

A few weeks ago Susie asked Ritchie what things were important to him to put in his obituary when the time came. He thought for a minute and then in his witty way said, “Wait!! What?? He’s dead???” They had been laughing and saying that to each other in the weeks before he died. Little did they know, it would be too soon.

On November 30, 2017 Ritchie suffered 2 major heart attacks while working out at the gym. He wasn’t expected to recover. He fought hard and came back almost 100%. On September 27, 2018 Ritchie suffered another major heart attack at the gym. While in the hospital, he suffered a stroke. He was put on comfort care and brought home on October 6th. He passed away at home, with Susie and his son, Mack by his side on October 9th.

A celebration of life will be held at Orchard Hills Golf & Country Club on Friday, November 2nd at 3:00 PM. 605 – 39th St, Washougal, WA. Please bring stories to share and honor a great and loving man.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ritchie’s name to West Columbia Gorge Humane Society, PO Box 270, Washougal, WA 98671.