R. C. Rittenhouse

R.C. Rittenhouse, born July 27, 1926, a native of Philadelphia, PA and fifteen year resident of Hendersonville, passed away on Thursday, May 10, 2012 at the Elizabeth House. He was the only child of the late Charles P. Rittenhouse and Ruth A. Zohe. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1944 and served as Tail Gunner along with a variety of other duties for the 20th Air Force on Guam until his discharge in 1947. At the time of his death he was a member of VFW Post #5206, Chapter 14 of the DAV and Hubert M. Smith American Legion Post #77, all in Hendersonville. He was greatly honored to be one of the first group of WW II veterans to visit their memorial in Washington, DC through Honor Air. After his service in the military he met and married his wife Virginia in 1953. He is survived by Virginia and their two sons, Richard A. and Steven C. Rittenhouse. He is also survived by his four granddaughters, Adina Young and her husband Jonathan, Heather, Melissa and Amy Rittenhouse and two great-granddaughters, Ava and Gwen Young. During his long career in technical publishing, he was managing editor and editor of a variety of magazines in the automotive, boating and engineering fields. He retired from Power Engineering in 1995 and moved with his wife to Hendersonville. From 1995 until his recent illness precluded more work, he completed Part I of his Saga of the Rittenhouse Family. Part II was incomplete but his son Richard brought it up to date as best he could so that his father could see it before he passed. These books were written as a history for the benefit of his sons and his grandchildren, those here and those yet to be born. He had stated on numerous occasions that his life’s pride was his family, his military service and his career. He is much loved and will be greatly missed. A memorial service will be held 1:00 PM Friday, May 18, in the Gazebo at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Military honors will be rendered by VFW Post #5206, Chapter 14 of the DAV and Hubert M.Smith American Legion Post #77.