Janie Jan Long Ritchie, March 24, 1951 — May 15, 2019

Janie “Jan”‘s Obituary Janie Long Ritchie, 68 of Harrisonburg, Virginia passed away peacefully with her family by her side at Sentara RMH on Wednesday May 15, 2019. Janie (Jan) was born on March 24, 1951 in Louisa Co. Virginia and was the daughter of the late, Byrd Wesley and Elizabeth Kincannon Long. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Richard Long and sister, Mary Elizabeth Hitchcock.

Jan graduated from New Kent High School and then from Madison College with a Bachelors of Education Degree. She began her career as a teacher in Henrico Co. and moved to Loudon Co. where she also taught kindergarten. Her remaining years of teaching were with Rockingham Co. Schools where she taught kindergarten at Elkton Elementary School, a career span of 35 years, retiring in June of 2010.

On July 27, 1974, Jan was united in marriage with her husband, Martin (Joe) Ritchie, who survives. Along with her husband, Jan is survived by three daughters, Lura Flick of Bridgewater, Julie Ritchie and husband, Carter of Timberville, and Mary Jo (MJ) Saufley and husband, Erik of Grottoes; two grandsons, Parker and Brady Flick of Bridgewater; niece, Melanie Hitchcock of New Kent, VA. , as well as a nephew, Sam Guinn of Temple, Texas.

Post-retirement, Jan loved to travel to the Outer Banks with her family, was a member of the Sunrise Church of the Brethren, and served on many committees. Jan also enjoyed flowers, cooking and spending time with her children and grandchildren. On December 8th 2015, Jan received a double lung transplant at the University of Maryland Medical Center from a generous unknown donor, extending her life with her family for three and a half years.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, May 21, 2019, at Kyger Funeral Home in Harrisonburg from 6pm to 8pm for an informal memorial gathering. A private family burial will be held at a later date. The family would like to thank the medical team at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, Her nursing care team at Sentara RMH Medical Center and Sentara RMH Palliative Care for their compassionate care that they provided throughout her complex medical needs.

Jan was an organ donor herself, and strongly encouraged others to do the same. Memorial contributions may be made to Sunrise Church of the Brethren.

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