Daily Gate City
Keokuk, IowaLaurence Leo 'Sonny' Riter
March 20, 1935 -- Aug. 5, 2002
Laurence Leo "Sonny" Riter, 67, of Keokuk, died Monday, Aug. 5, 2002, in Keokuk.
He was born on March 20, 1935, in Keokuk, the son of Laurence Leo, Sr. and Laura Redden Riter. He married Marie Ziegenfuss on Dec. 12, 1963, in Keokuk.
Survivors include: a son, Laurence "Larry" Riter and friend, Jennifer Thrush of Keokuk; a daughter, Leane Marie Hays and her husband, Todd, of Tallahassee, Fla.; three grandchildren, Lauren Riter of Hamilton, Ill., and Cody Hays and Kellie Hays of Tallahassee; four sisters, Wilma O'Daniel of Wenden, Ariz., Maxine Loring of Keokuk, Velma Rossi of Biggsville, Ill., and Joyce Grout and her husband, Steve, of Spring Hill, Fla.; nieces; nephews; and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Marjorie Munson.
He was a lifelong resident of Keokuk and graduated from Keokuk Senior High.
Mr. Riter had been employed as a woodworker at Keokuk Steel Castings in the pattern shop for 28 years, retiring in 1990.
He had served in the United States Army. He was a member of the B.P.O.E. Elks Lodge #106, American Legion Post #41, the Southside Boat Club and was a past member of the Eagles.
He was an expert woodworker.
Mr. Riter loved playing cards, was an avid golfer and was a bowler when he was younger. He was a loyal pool shooter and played in the Monday night pool league.
Services are at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at DeJong's Funeral Home in Keokuk, with the Rev. Paul Pennington officiating.
Burial with full military rites will be in the Keokuk National Cemetery.
Visitation is today at the funeral home, with family meeting friends from 6 to 9 p.m.
A memorial has been established for his grandchildren.
