Crash Kills Olney Cyclist

A rural Olney motorcyclist was fatally injured Sunday afternoon in a collision with a car at a rural intersection about three miles southeast of Olney.

William P. Ritter, Jr, 21, died at 5:40 p.m. Sunday at Springfield Airport as he was being transferred from Richland Memorial Hospital in Olney.

The car’s driver, Ruth Dishong, 61, of Claremont and Doborah Chalcraft, 17, of Ellery, a passenger on the cycle were admitted to the Olney hospital where both were listed in satisfactory condition.

State Police investigated the accident which occurred at 2 p.m.

The Decatur Herald (Decatur, IL) – Monday, May 9, 1977

William P. (Bill) Ritter, Jr, 20 of Olney, died May 8, 1977 enroute to St. John's Hospital in Springfield, where he was transferred from Richland memorial Hospital by ambulance and plane.

The Sangamon County Coroner's Office in Springfield said Ritter was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital there.

Interment in the Oak Hill Cemetery at Parkersburg.

Ritter was born December 5, 1956 at Olney, the son of William P. Ritter Sr. and Marilyn Sue Wynn Ritter. He was never married. He was in the Sophomore Class at Wabash Valley College in Mt. Carmel and was due to graduate in about two weeks. He had been employed by the Hooker Implement Company and the John Deere Implement store in Flora.

He leaves his parents, two brothers: Robert (Bob) Ritter and Daniel (Dan) Ritter, both at home. He also leaves grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Cloyd Wynn of Parkersburg. Mrs. Sarah Cassady of Olney and a great grandmother, Mrs. Eva Gibson of Olney. He has five uncles: Edward Ritter, Robert Ritter and Douglas Cassady, all of Olney, Cloren (Corky) Wynn of California and Cloyd Wynn Jr. living in Indiana.

Published in Olney Daily Mail (IL)