Trula Ann McGill-Midkiff, 61, a resident of Laurel, died June 25, 2009 at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore.

Born Sept. 17, 1947 in Tennessee, she was the daughter of the late Ollie (Parrot) and John Thomas. She worked for many years as a banking customer service representative.

Mrs. McGill-Midkiff is survived by her husband, Douglas C. Midkiff; son Johnny Thomas; granddaughter Jessica; and siblings Virginia Trydell, Clyde, William "Cotton," Fate, Fred and Willy.

Visitation was June 29 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., with funeral services at 7:30 p.m., at Donaldson Funeral Home, 313 Talbott Ave.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 415 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21201.

Jerry C. Ritchie

Jerry Carlyle Ritchie, 71, a Montpelier resident for more than 30 years, died June 13, 2009 at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, following a stroke.

He was born Dec. 13, 1937 in Richfield, N.C. He received a Bachelor of Arts in 1960 from Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer, N.C.; a Master of Science in botany and soils from the University of Tennessee in 1962; and a doctorate in botany and ecology from the University of Georgia in 1967. He worked as a soil scientist with the Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service, Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory in Beltsville. Dr. Ritchie is recognized internationally for his contributions over a broad range of scientific disciplines, with his extensive research impacting water quality assessments.

He authored or coauthored more than 275 scientific publications. He was one of the founding members of the World Association for Sedimentation and Erosion Research. In 2000, he was elected Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy and Fellow of the Soil Science Society of America. In 2004, he received USDA-ARS Beltsville Area Senior Scientist of the Year award and in 2006 the USDA-ARS Beltsville Area Equal Employment Opportunity/Civil Rights Award. In 2008, he was presented with the American Society of Agronomy -Environmental Quality Research Award.

A faithful and active member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Laurel for more than 30 years, he served in many capacities including financial secretary, usher, landscaper, ladder-climber and banner-hanger. He also volunteered in Laurel at the Elizabeth House soup kitchen and with the Winter Haven homeless shelter program. He loved to garden, travel and play softball.

Mr. Ritchie is survived by his wife of 43 years, Carole Atanasoff Ritchie, of Laurel; son Jay Ritchie, of Diamondhead, Miss.; daughter and son-in-law Karen and Rami Shihadeh, of Pacific Grove, Calif., and granddaughter Malika.

Visitation and funeral services were held June 16 and 17 at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Laurel.

Arrangements were made by Donaldson Funeral Home, 313 Talbott Ave.

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