Earl Dean (Butch) Ritter, age 82, passed away on January 12, 2026 in Oklahoma City. He was born on June 16, 1943 in Leesburg, Louisiana to Cullen and Effie (Jackson) Ritter. He grew up in Leesburg and Oklahoma City. He then served in the Air Force at Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio. After his service, he lived in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Wichita, Kansas where he studied ministry at Calvary Chapel School of Theology in Wichita. Later, Earl went on to teach at various schools, including Westminster Day School and Oklahoma Christian School where he taught middle school Bible. He also served as Pastor of Calvary Chapel Cool Waters in Edmond, Oklahoma.

Earl loved music. He played the banjo, guitar, dulcimer, autoharp, harmonica and many other instruments. He made music and performed at coffee houses, festivals and other venues throughout the years.

He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his beloved wife, Patricia "Kathi"; daughter, Melissa (Paul) Horn of Forest Lake, Minnesota; son, Timothy (Angela) Ritter of Columbia Heights, Minnesota; granddaughters, Zoe, Isabel, Sadie and Luna; grandson, Milo; and great-granddaughter, Annika, all of Minnesota.

A memorial will be held at Calvary Chapel OKC in Bethany, OK on March 21, 2026 at 2:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to his wife Patricia Ritter for her ongoing needs and expenses.