Gail P. Ritchie, 75, of Colfax passed away Monday (August 20, 2018) at his home.

The funeral will be held at 10:00am, Friday, August 24, 2018, at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Colfax.

Burial will be 12:00pm, noon, on Friday, August 24, 2018 at East Lawn Memorial Gardens, Bloomington, where military honors will be performed by the Davis-Kerber American Legion Post, Colfax.

Visitation will be held from 5-7:00pm, Thursday, August 23, 2018, also at the funeral home in Colfax and one hour prior to services on Friday.

Memorials may be made to Eastern McLean County Ambulance Service or Ridgeview Athletic Boosters.

He was born July 12, 1943, to Alden "Valentine" and Lucille Plank Ritchie.  He married Connie Walker on August 21, 1971, at the Colfax United Methodist Church.  She survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Chad (Kara) Ritchie of Bloomington and Jay (Jennifer) Ritchie of Peoria; five grandchildren, Addison Ritchie, Jackson Ritchie, Clayton Johnson-Ritchie, Camelia Ritchie, and Cadence Andrews; his sister, Norma Baker of Washington and his brother, Wendell Ritchie of Decatur, Illinois.  Gail was preceded in death by his parents.

Gail was a longtime member of the Colfax United Methodist Church and then First Assembly of God Church in Normal. He graduated from Octavia High School lettering in multiple sports and receiving All-State Honorable Mention honors as a fullback in football.  He served two years in the Army serving in Korea as an airplane mechanic.   Gail was involved in 4-H during his youth and later served as a 4-H leader.  He served as a lay speaker for the United Methodist Church and was a member of the Davis-Kerber American Legion Post 653.

Gail was a farmer for over 35 years.   He started Ritchie's Painting Service in 1987 and ran that business for over 25 years until he retired.  Gail loved his family, singing in the church choir, his antique Allis-Chalmers tractors, and cheering on the Chicago Bears and White Sox.  He was one of Ridgeview High School's biggest fans.  Gail was a hard worker who was willing to help anybody who needed it.  He was a devoted husband and father.  He was loved and respected by many and will be greatly missed.