Elmer Lee Rittenberry Jr

Elmer Lee Rittenberry, Jr., retired recruiter for the Tennessee National Guard and resident of the Neapolis Community, died Monday, November 12, 2007 at Maury Regional Hospital. Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 P.M. Thursday at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Rev. James D. Moore officiating. Burial will be in Neapolis Cemetery with military honors provided by the Tennessee Army National Guard. The family will visit with friends Wednesday from 4:00 - 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home. Notes of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.oakesandnichols.com. The Maury County native was the son of the late Elmer Lee Rittenberry, Sr. and Martha Jane Fitzgerald Rittenberry. He was a 1969 graduate of Columbia Central High School and earned his Drafting Certificate from Tennessee Technical College in Hohenwald. He enlisted in the National Guard's 473rd Support Batallion on November 11, 1970, went in active duty on November 1, 1980, and retired January 31, 2001 after thirty years service. He was a former independent draftsman and surveyor and also worked for the State of Tennessee. Mr. Rittenberry was a member of the American Legion Post 19, Sons of ConfederateVeterans, and Military Order of Stars & Bars. An avid sports enthusiast, he enjoyed fishing and was former president of Maury Little League, an American Legion coach, Santa Fe Middle School coach, and coach and Board Member of the Spring Hill Babe Ruth Baseball. He had also served as a Boy Scout Explorer advisor. He loved playing guitar and genealogy research. He was a member of Viola Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife, Barbara Fitzgerald Rittenberry of the Neapolis Community; two sons, Daniel Lee Rittenberry and John Matthew Rittenberry, both of the Neapolis Community; one grandson, Nathaniel Lee Rittenberry of Columbia; aunt, Juanita (Will Frank Sr.) Woody of Santa Fe; two uncles, Clint (Jane) Fitzgerald of Columbia; John W. (JoAnn) Fitzgerald of Hermitage; nephew, Michael Harvey of Smyrna; brother-in-law, Jimmy (Linda) Fitzgerald of Columbia; niece, Christy VanBibber of Columbia; two nephews, James (Sarah) Fitzgerald of Columbia; and Timothy (Michelle) Fitzgerald of Spring Hill; great nephews, Anderson VanBibber and Christopher Harvey; great nieces, Hannah Fitzgerald, Haleigh Fitzgerald, and Katelyn Harvey; and several cousins. He was preceded in death by a brother, William R. Harvey. Pallbearers will be Ron Lindsey, John Wilson, Joe Birdsong, Clyde Bomar, Bill Howell, Troy Hendley, John Evans, Royce Thurman, Gary Pogue, and Nate Crawford. Honorary pallbearers will be James Fitzgerald, Timothy Fitzgerald, Douglas Woody, Will Frank Woody, Jr., Donnie Melton, Dean Johnson, Bobby Jones, W. L. Culberson, Dr. Rand Hayes, staff of Moore Care Ambulance Service, staff of NHC Home Health Care, and former members of 473rd Support Batallion.