Deputy Sheriff Hiram Alex "Buddy" Ritchie
Survivors
His wife - Barbara; son - Charles; daughter - Dawn; mother - Beulah; sisters - Lola and Sheila; and brothers - Hershel, Jimmy, David, Rick, Bill, Lloyd, and David
Incident
Deputy Hiram Ritchie and Deputy Mike Cornett had just dropped off a juvenile at the Buckhorn Children’s Center. After leaving the center, they encountered several men on a bridge about one mile from Buckhorn Lake. As they attempted to arrest one of the men for public intoxication, gunfire erupted. Deputy Ritchie died at the scene and Deputy Cornett was severely wounded but survived his injuries. One of the men was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 15 years. Two others were convicted of reckless homicide and sentenced to two to four years. The other man admitted to shooting Deputy Cornett but stated that he did so in self-defense. He was acquitted.
Deputy Ritchie was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War.
Agency
Gallery
There are currently no photos for Deputy Sheriff Hiram Alex "Buddy" Ritchie.
Tributes
There are 3 tributes for Deputy Sheriff Hiram Alex "Buddy" Ritchie.
There is so much I wish to say
I think about you every day
I miss your laugh
I miss your smile
Neither lost nor forgotten...
I imagine them often
It just doesn’t seem real that you’re not around
I still look for you when I’m in town…
I’ll never forget on the 30th of June...
As I sat on the curb, tears filled my eyes….
I found myself looking for you…..
Until I realized what was true...
I will never again see your wave and your smile...
We won’t stand on the street and visit for a while…
No “how you doing Sis†with a big hug to follow….
All of these things, I cherish so dearly …
In my heart, I remember so clearly…
I still talk to you ...
I know you can hear me…
Today I spoke of you and before I finished my sentence….
I could feel your presence...
Then .. a coincidence, or was it a sign?
The song that reminds me of you began to play…
As If you knew I was thinking of you this day...
I smiled.. feeling you were there with me …
Again... I sat remembering…
Tears filled my eyes as I listened to the song.
But this time I accepted that you are gone.
So many years later..
Seems like forever….
I’ve asked myself and I’ve talked to God…..
How could he take you away for so long?
The only answer that makes any sense is ….
You’re in God’s hands now…
As he planned
Watching us from above…
An Angel in heaven who will always be loved.
I miss u with all my Heart
Sheila
7/2/2012