KNOX — Rachel Ellen Ritts of Mount Jewett passed away Friday (Jan. 23, 2026) at Bradford Ecumenical Home at the age of 98 years, 8 months.

Ellen was born May 17, 1927, in St. Petersburg, Clarion County. She was the daughter of Edward V. and Ethelda Neely Ashbaugh.

After graduating from high school, she worked for Howard Pantom’s Law office in Foxburg and the Sterling Oil Division of Quaker State in Emlenton where she met her future husband, Joseph Alvin Ritts. They married on Dec. 29, 1950, at St. Peters Evangelical and Reformed Church in St. Petersburg.

Ellen then spent the rest of her life being a devoted wife, a wonderful mother and loving grandmother.

She is survived by a daughter, Pamela (James) Skudlarek of Salamanca, N.Y.; a son, Joseph A. (April) Ritts Jr. of Weedsport, N.Y.; sister-in-law, Rose Mary Ashbaugh; and grandchildren Lisa Dognazzi, Timothy Skudlarek, Nicholas Ritts, Katherine Schafer, Stephanie Gillette and Samuel Ritts. Ellen is also survived by her great-grandchildren, James Jr., Colton and Mason Dognazzi; Peyton and Jordan Ritts; Charlotte and Carter Schafer; and Danny and Rachel Gillette.

In addition to her parents and her husband of 71 years, she was predeceased by a grandson, Joshua James Skudlarek in 1987; and brothers Vincent N. Ashbaugh and Edward Terry Ashbaugh.

Family and friends will be received from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday (Jan. 30, 2026) at William N. Rupert Mortuary Inc., 430 Mendenhall Ave., where funeral services will immediately follow with Pastor Wendy Hazlett, pastor of Salem United Church of Christ, officiating.

Interment will take place in Salem Church Cemetery.

Online condolences may be sent to Ellen’s family at rupertfuneralhomes.com.