Isabelle Ritter Donaldson

Kittrell- Susan Isabelle Ritter Donaldson (Isabelle), 72, formerly of Kittrell, died peacefully December 27, 2021 at Duke Regional Hospital in Durham, after a long illness. Born November 18, 1949 in Columbus, Ohio, Isabelle was the daughter of Anna Margaret Patterson Ritter and Crum Marshall Ritter, Sr., who predeceased her in death, as did her brother, Crum Marshall Ritter, Jr. In 1971, she was married to David Robert Donaldson, who survives at home. Isabelle is survived by her daughter, Anna Lee Stump (Gary), of State College, PA, and two grandchildren, Casey and Kyle. She is survived by two siblings, William Laird Ritter and Elizabeth Ritter, both of Boalsburg, PA. Isabelle was a graduate of State College Area High School, class of 1967. Following graduation, she attended the Pennsylvania State University. In the early 1970s Isabelle and David lived in Arlington, VA during his military service. Later the couple lived near Pittsburgh, PA and in Morganton, before settling in Kittrell in 1980, where she was a full-time wife and mother in the home the couple built based on Isabelle's architectural designs. Isabelle was an active member of Fuller Chapel Christian Church in Henderson, and a founding member of the 5:15 Club. She was an accomplished and prolific artist; her painting style focused primarily on naturalist, realist themes. She was also an excellent writer of both prose and poetry. Isabelle was passionate about improving childhood and adult literacy and worked energetically for many years with the Vance County School system and Vance-Granville Community College to improve reading skills for people of all ages. She was a lifelong artist with wool, yarn, and fabrics, and excelled at sewing, knitting, and crocheting. She thoroughly enjoyed cooking and tending to her vegetable and flower gardens, canning tomatoes, peaches, and pickles, and making her famous applesauce cake with black walnuts every Christmas. She enjoyed “chili Saturdays” in the fall, making a big pot of chili and watching Penn State football. Isabelle cherished spending time with her family and friends. Friends will be received at Fuller Chapel Christian Church from 12:30 P.M. until 2:00 P.M. on January 5, 2022, with the funeral service following immediately thereafter at 2:00 P.M. Pastor Tammy Ayscue will officiate, and burial will be at the Fuller Chapel Cemetery directly after the service. The family extends special thanks to the nurses, doctors, and staff at Duke Regional Hospital for their care of support of Isabelle. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions to Matthew 5:15 Group of Fuller Chapel, 1470 N. Lynnbank Road, Henderson, NC 27537 or Ruin Creek Animal Protection Society, 165 US Hwy. 158, Henderson, NC 27537.