Mary Diane Ritz

Mary Diane Ritz Norman was born in the town of Gravesend, in the county of Kent, in England on May 23 rd , 1931 to John (Jack) Pentland Winder and Florence Maud (Batch) Winder.

Mary passed in Tucson, Arizona during the early morning hours of July 11 th , 2026.

Mary attended Pitman’s College in London and worked at The Royal Institute of Chemistry before being assigned to Luxembourg with Her Majesties Foreign Office, 1952-1954.

In 1954 Mary married Elton Ritz in England. They lived in West Virginia until moving to Tucson Arizona in 1965. They were blessed with four children: Ellis, Philip, Elisabeth and Christopher.

Mary and Elton divorced in 1977. She married Paul Norman in 1983.

Mary was predeceased by her parents and her brother, Richard “Jim” Winder and his wife, Judy; also, by Elton Ritz and Paul Norman; and her beloved dog Johnny Cash.

Mary is survived by her children and their families; Ellis and Barbara Ritz, Philip and Tracey Ritz, Elisabeth Ritz Painter; Christopher and Tessa Ritz; also, by eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Mary held several posts in West Virginia and in Tucson she worked at the Tucson Citizen, City Magazine, St Philips in the Hills Church, Pima County Superior Court and Century 21; also, at St Francis in the Valley Church, in Green Valley and at Continental School. For six years Mary owned and operated a gift and flower shop in Patagonia, Arizona.

Mary was blessed with a long and happy life, rich in friendships, love and laughter. Mary was an Artist, a writer, a traveler, an Author, a gardener and a loving mother. She was an active member of OLLI-UA and of St Philip’s in the Hills Church where a memorial service with be held in the fall.

Any Memorial gifts would be appreciated by: St Philips Church, Casa Maria Kitchen or the Salvation Army.