Nira Vylene Ritter (nee Ransom, formerly Wingate) was born January 7, 1934, in Sycamore, Georgia to John Donald and Annie Mae Ransom. Vy grew up in Elfers, Florida surrounded by her father's orange groves. After graduating from Gulf High School in New Port Richey, she started a family with her first husband, Ken Wingate. Ken served 20 years in the United States Navy, and the family moved around the United States and even spent a year in Naples, Italy where she learned how to bake her famous lasagna. Vy worked in real estate and clerical positions before Ken retired and purchased a farm in O'Brien where she became a member of O'Brien Baptist Church. While working as the librarian at the Boys' Ranch in Live Oak, Vy went back to school at the University of Florida, earned her Master's Degree in reading, and started the career that became her calling. She began teaching first grade in 1979 at Branford K-12 School, but she quickly decided that older students who could blow their own noses suited her better, and she spent the rest of her 25-year career teaching fourth and sixth grade. Vy was twice named Teacher of the Year at Branford. After the death of her husband in 2000, she met and married Dan Ritter in 2005. She caught Dan's love for bowling, and he became a member of the Masonic Lodge in order to join her for Eastern Star. Vy was named the Grand Chapter Organist, and they spent the next several years traveling to Eastern Star events and bowling tournaments. She loved spoiling her dogs, tending to her roses, and watching Gator football. Vy passed away peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones on September 5, 2024.

Vy was preceded in death by her first husband Ken Wingate, brother Don Ransom, daughter Donna Seabrook, daughter-in-law Debbie Wingate, and grandson Todd Seabrook.

Vy is survived by her husband Daniel Ritter, brother Art Ransom, son Wayne Wingate, son-in-law Larry Seabrook, granddaughter Leslie Wood (Justin), grandsons K.J. Wingate (Buffie) and Ben Wingate (Lindsey), nine great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

May her roses bloom eternally.

There will be a visitation held at 9:00 am Saturday, September 14th at O'Brien Baptist Church with the service following at 10:00 am. Interment will be held in O'Brien Cemetery.

Please keep the family in your prayers and sign the online guestbook.