David Lee Ritchie

David Lee Ritchie, 77, of La Mirada, California, passed away peacefully on May 17th 2026, surrounded by the people who meant the world to him. Born on January 20, 1949, David lived a life full of laughter, loyalty, and the kind of stories families retell for generations. David grew up in Compton with his brothers Tommy and Terry and sister Sandra. David, with his brothers Tommy and Terry, formed what can only be described as a three‑man demolition crew. Their backyard was less a yard and more a sports arena, battlefield, and construction zone rolled into one. If a day went by without a broken window, a bruised rib, or a neighbor yelling, it was considered a slow day. David and his brothers didn’t play flag football—they played “hospital football,” a full‑contact sport that resulted in more emergency room visits than touchdowns. Baseball wasn’t much safer. The Ritchie boys broke so many windows that the family considered installing plexiglass before plexiglass was even a thing. When the family swimming pool drained, most kids would have complained. Not the Ritchie boys. They simply invented “the world’s first backyard skate park.” David was proud of this innovation, even if it resulted in a few more hospital trips One of David’s favorite childhood memories was the bakery truck that rolled down the street each afternoon. He could smell the donuts from a block away and would sprint out the door like an Olympic athlete. His other favorite pastime was tormenting his brother Tom by pulling his ears—an act the family still blames for why Tom’s ears stick out to this day. After graduating from Dominguez High School in 1967, David enlisted in the United States Army, serving honorably and spending time in Germany. When he returned home, he opened his heart and home to friends who needed a place to land, offering them the small room behind the family garage on Peck Street. David never let anyone feel alone—he was always the one people could count on. One girl from the local drugstore even brought him gifts regularly—proof that David had charm long before he knew what to do with it. The Ritchie family grew as they welcomed Samantha and Little David into the family. Now David, Terry, Tommy, Sandra, Little Dave, Samantha and Tammie would spend their days hanging out together listening to music on oversized speakers and playing cribbage, Budweiser in hand. David went on to build a 40‑year career at AAA Plating & Inspection, Inc., where he became known for his dedication, reliability, and quiet strength. Outside of work, he continued to play sports with his brothers, joining slow‑pitch softball teams and keeping that competitive spark alive. David raised his children, Ian and Juli, in Buena Park, giving them the same mix of structure and humor that he grew up with. In his later years, he found love with Donna Solidum and her son Jhon, who became an important part of his life. David and Donna shared a deep, steady love that carried him through his final years. Those who knew David will remember his warm smile, his mischievous sense of humor, and the way he always called to check in on family. (Back and forth) He was a man who loved deeply and quietly, and he leaves behind a family who will forever feel the imprint of his presence. David is survived by his longtime partner Donna, his children, Ian Lee Ritchie and his wife Teresa Ritchie, Juli Ann Ritchie, and Jhon Solidum, his brothers Tom Ritchie and his wife Brenda, “Little David” Ritchie and his wife Sylvia, nieces Tammie and her husband Jeff Thompson, Tina Moore, Elizabeth Davis and her husband Michael, nephews, Glen Pierpoint, Andrew Ritchie and his wife Charissa, Stuart Ritchie and his wife Ginger, great‑nieces and nephews, Bryanne Smith and her husband Lee, James & Sebastian Wyatt, Destiny Moore, Brantley & Blake Davis, Kaylee Ritchie, Michelle Ramirez, Anthony Guerra, Luke, Dylan, Marcus Ritchie great‑great‑nieces and nephews Braxton & Peter Smith, Josephine Wyatt, Sophie Ramirez, and his aunts, uncle countless and cousins. He is preceded in death by his parents Al and Dorothy Ritchie and his beloved siblings Terry, Samantha and Sandra and loved ones who are no doubt welcoming him home with open arms and probably a few jokes of their own. A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at 11:00 AM at Memory Garden Memorial Park & Mortuary, followed by burial at Prattville Memorial Gardens in Prattville, Alabama, where he will rest beside his brother Terry. David’s life was full—full of stories, full of laughter, full of love. And though he has left this world, the memories he created will continue to live in the hearts of all who knew him.

David Lee Ritchie

January 20, 1949 - May 17, 2026