Cyrus Donald Rittenhouse - Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Homes & Crematory

Cyrus Donald Rittenhouse

Born March 28, 1932

Cyrus Donald Rittenhouse, age 84, lifelong resident of Newark, DE passed away peacefully while surrounded by his family on Friday, October 14, 2016.

Mr. Rittenhouse was born on March 28, 1932 and was a son of Cyrus Ephram Rittenhouse and Miriam (Boys) Rittenhouse Battersby. He was a graduate of Newark High School and attended the University of Delaware where he was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. Mr. Rittenhouse operated Rittenhouse Motor Company, an automobile dealership established by his father in 1923, along with his late brother, Julian W. Rittenhouse and his late brother-in-law, Robert H. Dutton, until 1996.

Active in his community, he was a lifelong member of the Newark United Methodist Church, a longtime member of the Newark Country Club, the Delaware Automobile and Truck Dealers Association, the Newark Lions Club and the Newark Historical Society. An avid boating enthusiast, Mr. Rittenhouse enjoyed every day he spent on the Chesapeake Bay aboard his beloved boat the Capcys. He spent many happy hours over the years with his friends from his boyhood, his fraternity, his pool group and the Newark community. Above all, Mr. Rittenhouse was a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Faye Meredith Rittenhouse, daughter Kathryn Rittenhouse Priebe and her husband Kevin R. Priebe of Forest Hill, MD, grandson Tyler Rittenhouse Priebe, daughter Karen Rittenhouse Hammond and her husband John H. Hammond of Bishopville, MD and grandsons Jack Rittenhouse Hammond and Justin Hugh Hammond. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother Julian and his sister Marjorie Rittenhouse Dutton.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 on Saturday morning, October 22, 2016 at Newark United Methodist Church, 69 E. Main Street, Newark, DE 19711. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Newark United Methodist Church at the address listed above or to the Newark Historical Society, P.O. Box 711, Newark, DE 19715.

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7 Condolences for Cyrus Donald Rittenhouse

  • My deepest condolences to the Rittenhouse family.
    I had the pleasure of working with Don, his brother Jude and brother in law Bob Dutton at Rittenhouse Motor Company back in the mid to late 70’s.
    Don would walk through the garage humming a tune and often stopping to share a kind word and chat with the mechanics.
    Every year at Christmas he would walk through the garage selling fruitcake for the Lions Club. I never failed to purchase one every year as long as I worked there. It was a tradition.
    He had a fondness for big station wagons and always had one as a demonstrator vehicle.
    Every Friday afternoon he’d park the car out by the wash bay and ask one of the lot guys to “rinse the dust off” his loaner. They were big cars and it usually took an hour or more to wash those beasts. Never failed, the car would get a bath and he’d sell it that weekend so he order another one for us to prep for delivery. The man knew how to move his merchandise!
    Quick with a smile and easy to work for. He was a guy we all looked up to and respected.
    He will be missed but not forgotten.

  • Karen and Family , I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of your Dad . Keeping all of you in my thoughts and prayers . Elana ( from school )

  • Deepest sympathy to the Rittenhouse family.

  • Condolences to the Rittenhouse family — I went to school with his daughter Kathy. My late
    father was also Alpha Tau Omega.

  • Please know we are so sorry for your loss.

    Kindly,
    Barbara Jean Austin Lloyd and family

  • Sorry for the loss for your whole family. My parents, Dot and Jim Hutchison, were longtime customers of Rittenhouse Motors and are both gone as well. They always knew they would get a good price on cars and service afterwards there.
    In fact, I am a cousin of sorts through my mother’s Frasier family. I believe my mother and Cyrus were 4th cousins. More information available in a booklet published in the 1960’s which my grandmother contributed to if anyone in the family is interested in genealogy.

  • I have a c. 1954 photo of Don Rittenhouse and my cousin Jay H. Steinouer. Jay and Don were fraternity brothers at ATO at the Univ. of Delaware. I know this is over 3 years after Don’s passing, but if someone in the Rittenhouse family would like to have a copy of the picture, I will be glad to send it.