Carole O’Mara Ritenour of Woodstock went home to be with our Lord and her beloved Doug on Tuesday, October
24, 2023, at The Maynard Assisted Living in Strasburg, Virginia at the age of 79.
Carole was born March 8, 1944, in Strasburg, VA, Daughter of the late William and Jessie Freed. She graduated
from Strasburg High School and earned a Masters of Education Degree from James Madison University. Upon
graduation she worked as a school teacher for Shenandoah County Schools for over 45 years. She began her
teaching career in Fort Valley in 1964. Mom always raved about the Fort Valley community and their support of their
school, the smallest school in Virginia. She said whenever the school was slighted by the state or the county and
needed something, all that needed to be done was to get word to the Fort community and whatever was needed just
magically appeared. Fort valley was Family, not just Community. Mom always went the extra mile for her
students. She would be so proud to hear all of the expressions of sympathy and people saying she was the best
teacher they ever had that have been received since her passing; thank everyone for that.
Carole is survived by her son, Dail D. Ritenour, Jr. of Strasburg, daughter in law Carrie D. Ritenour of Strasburg,
sister Anna C. Rupert of Front Royal, brother William Freed of Collierville, Tennessee, niece Kandis Rouck of
Centreville, Virginia, nephew Edward Ritenour of Maine and many other nieces and nephews.
Carole was preceded in death by her husband Dail D. Ritenour, Sr, her brother, Edward Freed, her mother, Jessie
Freed, and her father William Freed.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Fort Valley Volunteer Fire Department or to the
Dementia Society of America.
There will be a memorial service held at the Fort Valley Volunteer Fire Department at a date and time in
November. Notification of the date will be made via social media and newspaper. Interment will be private at the
Ritenour Family Cemetery in Fort Valley, Virginia. Dellinger Funeral Home