Ritchie Lynne, 77, of Kansas City, Missouri, died on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022, surrounded by her closest family.
She was born on Feb. 5, 1945, to Milton Swartz and Neora (nee Katz) Swartz in Kansas City, Missouri. She was the oldest of five children. Ritchie graduated from Southwest High School in 1963, and she went to the Kansas City Art Institute immediately upon graduation.
In 1985, Ritchie went back to art school and received a BFA, Cum Laude, from Virginia Commonwealth University. Thereafter, she followed with graduate studies in printmaking and painting at Studio Arts College International in Florence, Italy.
Ritchie was an accomplished painter and multi-media artist with many solo and group exhibitions in her lifetime, including her “Womb Wisdom” project, where she brought feminine voice to the world. She loved to travel to cities to look at art and be immersed in culture. Ritchie was a deeply spiritual woman, a woman’s rights advocate, and she fought for her community. Her family was her most cherished, at the center of her world.
She is survived by her children Jill David and Matt David (Renee Rech-David); her grandchildren William Barnes, Emma Barnes, Cody Barnes, Samantha David and Jeremy David; her great grandchildren Dash Barnes, Kai Barnes, Holden and Henry Barnes; her siblings Cynthia Ellis, Arnie Swartz (Carol), Scott Swartz (Joan), Mike Swartz (Deb); her nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews who lovingly knew her as “Aunt Ritchie;” her cousins and a plethora of friends who were like family.
Her funeral service was held on Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022. The service was at Kehilath Israel Blue Ridge Cemetery in the chapel, with burial thereafter.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that contributions be made to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City.
Condolences may be shared at louismemorialchapel.com.
