James Arlon Rithmire, 80, of Athens, died Tuesday at his residence. Services for Mr. Rithmire will be 1 p.m. Friday at Spry Funeral Home, Athens, with A. Ray Blankenship officiating. Burial will be in the Civitan Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 6-9 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home, Athens.
Mr. Rithmire was born May 2, 1932, in Lauderdale County. He was the former manager of the Ritz Theater and former owner of Hatfield Drive Inn. Mr. Rithmire was retired from USDA Soil Conservation office. He was a board member of Athens Lions Club and past president of the Fair association. He was a member of American Legion, Chamber of Commerce, Athens Zoning Board and also served on the Board of Athens Limestone Hospital. Mr. Rithmire was a member of Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church.
Survivors include daughter, Michele Rithmire Holden and husband, Jamie, of Athens; grandsons, Christopher Blake Holden, of Athens, and Benjamin Clay Holden, of Athens; special cousin, Jay Whitehead and wife, Brandy, and their daughter, Emma Kate Whitehead; brother, Dough Rithmire, of Clarksville, Ga., J.D. (Dwight) Rithmire, of Rogersville, Jim Jackson, Anderson, S.C., Phillip Oliver, of Brooklet, Ga., Dee Rithmire, of Cedar Bluff, Ala.; nieces, Linda Gorman, of Florence, Ala., Patty Montgomery, of Florence, Ala., Doris Marona, of Rogersville, Ala., Carol O’Neill, of Destin, Fla., Susan Jones, of Orlando, Fla., Candice Gorman, of Oxford, Ga., Margaret Baker, of Whitehead, Ala.
Mr. Rithmire was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Jeanette Rithmire; parents, James Garfield Rithmire and Arie Poss Rithmire; brothers, Hershell Rithmire, Dillard Rithmire; sister, Iva Letson and Nadine Jackson.
Pallbearers will be Wayne Wallace, Andy Wallace, Stan Wallace, Mark Swafford, Randy Allen and Mike Besh. Honorary pallbearers will be Brad Thomason, Tim Bishop, Steve Butler, Barry Campbell.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Limestone County, CASA or American Cancer Society .
