Billie Ruth Ritter Simpson

Billie Ruth Ritter Simpson, 95, of Las Cruces passed away on October 6, 2010 at her Mesilla Park home. She was the only child of Charles R. Carter and Estella Mae "Becky" Fox of El Paso, TX. She was born in Joplin, MO, on December 3, 1914. At the age of three she moved to El Paso with her parents and grandmother, Mamie Begley Carter, and husband Hans Waldman. In 1933 she married John Barnes Ritter, the son of Winfield F. Ritter and Margaret Barnes of El Paso, TX. They spent their honeymoon at the Amador Hotel in Las Cruces. In 1932 John founded the J. B. Ritter Distributing Company serving the Mesilla Valley farmers and numerous service stations with Texaco products. The pueblo-style home they built in Mesilla Park was recognized as a "Building of historical significance for adhering to local architecture" by the Dona Ana Historical Society. Both avid golfers, John and Billie Ruth were among the founders of the Las Cruces Country Club. Billie Ruth served as president of the Southwest Women's Golf Association and President of the Las Cruces Country Club Women's Golf Association. Billie Ruth and John purchased the historic Cloudcroft Lodge in Cloudcroft, NM, in 1953, and began renovations to the landmark hotel. She would later oversee the extension of the golf course to eighteen holes. The following year, Billie Ruth and John became founding members of the Ruidoso Jockey Club. Billie Ruth's love of horse racing would lead to her partnership in Temulac Stables and the ownership of Sunland Park Race Track speed record holder , Winsham Lad. In 1954 John was killed in a tragic auto accident, leaving Billie Ruth as a 39-year-old widow with four children. On February 6, 1957, she married W. K. "Ajax" Simpson, a Marfa, TX rancher and banker that she met on a blind date arranged by El Paso friends. The marriage provided Billie Ruth with some of the happiest memories of her life. They traveled throughout the world, enjoying the art, music and culture of the many countries they visited. Billie Ruth was preceded in death by her first husband of 21 years, John B. Ritter, by her dear husband of 41 years, W. K. Ajax Simpson, by her son, John C. Ritter, and by her granddaughter, Peggy Ritter. She is survived by her three children, son Charles W. "Buddy" Ritter and his wife, Margaret of Mesilla Park, daughter Sallie Ritter Jacobs and her husband, Dr. Kent F. Jacobs of Las Cruces, and daughter Terri Ritter Finley and husband Dan, of Boulder, CO, and daughter-in-law, Nancy Ritter Galter of Dallas, TX. Billie Ruth is survived by Buddy's children, John F. Ritter of Dallas, Texas, C. Winfield "Win" Ritter of Las Cruces, and Elizabeth Ritter of Las Vegas, NV, and Terri's children, Ryan Beavers (Holly) of Vail, CO, and Megan Beavers of Boulder, CO, John C. Ritter's sons, Ron Ritter (Tina) of Ruidoso, and Don (Kerry) of Fort Worth, TX. She was adored by seven great grandchildren, and four great-great grandchildren. Billie Ruth graduated from El Paso High School and received her teaching certificate from the Texas College of Mines, now the University of Texas at El Paso. She was an accomplished ballet dancer and considered a professional dancing career. She was a prodigious benefactor to New Mexico State University, having established a graduate Fellowship in Business Administration. She was a member of the President's Associates, the University Ambassadors, and Aggie Boosters. Billie Ruth was active in the oversight of the Charles R. and Dorothy S. Carter Chair in Business Administration, established at the University of Texas at El Paso in memory of her father. Billie Ruth was a board member of Planned Parenthood, served as a volunteer Candystriper at Memorial General Hospital, and was president of the Las Cruces Garden Club. She was a member of St. James Episcopal Church for seventy-five years, which was founded by John Ritter's great grandfather, Edwin Burt, MD, a surgeon in Mesilla. Billie Ruth has truly been a grand dame of Las Cruces, and a consummate hostess. Her many friends are grateful to have known and loved her, often joking that Billie would go to Heaven while planning a party. She will be remembered by all as a kind, generous and loving grand lady. Funeral services are scheduled at 4:00 P.M. Friday, October 8 at St. James Episcopal Church in Mesilla Park, NM. The family requests memorials be made to the Billie Ruth Simpson Memorial Fund at St. James Episcopal Church, P O Box 2427, Mesilla Park, NM, 88047. PDF Printable Version