Dr Kenneth A Ritter, Jr. MD

New Iberia - Dr. Kenneth August Ritter, Jr., age 67, a longtime resident of New Iberia, Louisiana, passed away surrounded by loving family and friends, at his home on October 10, 2015. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Wednesday, October 14, 2015 at the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany in New Iberia. Entombment will follow in the St. John Cemetery in Jeanerette. A gathering of family and friends will be Tuesday from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Pellerin Funeral Home in New Iberia. Visitation will continue on Wednesday from 8:00 AM until 9:20 AM. Dr. Ritter was born in New Orleans on September 5, 1948, the first child of Dr. Kenneth Ritter and Louise Post Ritter. He grew up in that city, graduating from Incarnate Word grammar school and Jesuit High School, USL in 1970 and in 1974 from LSU medical school. He did his internal medicine internship and residency at Baroness Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee and began his practice in New Iberia in 1978 and continued to serve the patients of the area until his recent illness. During his years in New Iberia, Dr. Ritter avidly supported his profession serving on many medical boards. He was a member and past president and treasurer of the Iberia Parish Medical Society. He was also a member of the Southern Medical Society and American Society of Internal Medicine. He was Associate Medical Director of Iberia Rehabilitation Hospital and the Medical Director of the Cardiopulmonary Department at Iberia Medical. On staff at Iberia General Hospital, Dr. Ritter was a past Chief of Staff and served on many committees. He was a board member of the Dialysis Association of New Iberia and Associate Director of Evangeline Kidney Center. He also served as Medical Director for several Home Health and Hospice Agencies in the Acadiana area. Further, he was a past Chief Deputy Coroner and Deputy Coroner of Iberia Parish. Dr. Ken (as he was affectionately known) was passionate about the practice of medicine and his patients. He worked tirelessly for their health and wellbeing. Thirty seven years ago, when he began his life's work in New Iberia, he was determined to be an "old fashioned doc"...the kind that spent time with the patient, knew the family and stayed involved in their care. The testimonies and get well letters he received from patients over the past few months show how thoroughly he accomplished this goal. During his illness, he was asked if he had any regrets, he responded that having to retire and leave his patients was one of his greatest disappointments. He was a well respected and beloved man. But Dr. Ken was more than an M.D. , he was a true example of a Renaissance man, having a myriad of interests and hobbies and fully enjoying what life had to offer. He was a scuba diver, a trophy winning deep sea fisherman and boat captain, a skilled carpenter, a hunter, a world traveler, a historian, a herpetologist, an amateur astrologist, and so much more. But the love of his life was music and while he played a mean guitar and could bang out a tune on the piano, his skill was the drums. In high school and into college, he played drums with "The Cobras" and "The Epicurean Sounds" and while in New Iberia, was the drummer for "Hit and Run" and "The Road Doctor's Revue". He often said, tongue in cheek, that he would have been a professional drummer if he could have made a living with it. Dr. Ritter, was preceded in death by his father, Dr. Kenneth Ritter and a sister, Anita Kokemor and survived by his loving children, Marnie Hoyt (Casey), Kenneth "Kary" Ritter, III, Logan Ritter and Samantha Ritter and his adored grandchildren, Ellery Hoyt, Reece Hoyt and Dylan Hoyt; his mother Louise Post Ritter, and siblings: Dr. Stephen Ritter, Karen Burlet, Douglas Ritter (Dr. Kathleen Barfoot) , Michele Ritter, Dr. Christopher Ritter (Cathy) and Dr. Therese Ritter (Ed Lisecki) and numerous nieces and nephews and Anna Sullivan, his companion of 3 years and her daughter, Frederika. He is survived by his incredible office staff that was as close as family as you can get, Ada Credeur, Leslie Boudreaux and Stephanie Johnson. Also survived by dear friends and the mothers of his children, Peggy Melancon and Tracy Etie. His children would like to take the opportunity to thank all the friends and family members that helped around the clock making his last weeks comfortable and enjoyable. His children feel forever indebted to their uncle, Dr. Stephen Ritter, who managed the home care, Karen Burlet, Dr. Therese Ritter, Dr. Ed Lisecki, Michele Ritter, Dr. Kenny Grush, Renee Purdy, Ada Credeur, Anna Sullivan, Bill Harkrider and numerous others. Pallbearers will be Kary Ritter, Logan Ritter, Dr. Stephen Ritter, Douglas Ritter, Dr. Chris Ritter, and Kenny Grush. Honorary pallbearers include Dr. Edward Lisecki, Dr. Bill Harkrider, Jay Duhe, Jed Himel, Dr. Jimmy Falterman, and Casey Hoyt. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace Blvd, New Iberia, LA 70560, 337.365.3331 is in charge of the arrangements.