Source
Source for: Austin James Rittenhouse, 13 Mar 1911 - 7 May 1963
Index
General Source: S24Page: Thomas Hocking File
Date: 1980
General Source: S5General Source: S25Note: See source under father Frank Austin Rittenhouse.
General Source: S44Page: ERL B1 : Doc 2
Note: In spring of 1962, Buddy had exploritory surgery in Greenwood, Mississippi, by his brother-in-law Dr. Jones Weldon Lamb. At the time they found cancer of the lining of his stomach. In addition, at that time doctors didn't tell patients if they had cancer. Following his niece Judith Lamb's wedding in February 1963 in Greenwood, Mississippi, Buddy packed his car to return home to Oklahoma City. He collapsed in the driveway before he could leave. Then Weldon, told him that he had cancer of the lining of his stomach and probably had lasted about all he would. Buddy stayed at his sister's home to be taken care of by Weldon and a good nurse friend, Judy Sharp, and his sister Elizabeth Rittenhouse Lamb.
Text: Certificate of Death, State of Mississippi, Registrar's No. 223. State File No. 9322.Place of death: Leflore County, Greenwood, Mississippi, at 125 Riverside Dr., residence within city. Length of stay there 3 months. Usual residence Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Oklahoma. His street addess was 4904 No. Steanson Dr., a residence inside city limits. Name of deceased: Austin James Rittenhouse, II. Date of death: May 7, 1963, male, white, never married. Date of birth: 3-13-1911; age 52. Usual occupation: Interior Decorator and Industrial Designer. Birthplace: Chandler, Oklahoma. Citizen of USA. Father's name Frank Austin Rittenhouse. Mother's maiden name Alma Hocking. He was in the service during WWII. Informant Mrs. Jones W. Lamb, 125 Riverside Dr., Greenwood, Miss. Cause of death: Carcinoma of stomach (livitus Plastica). Interval between onset and death: 4 years. No autopsy. I attended the deceased to 5/7/63 and last saw him alive on 5/7/63; signed by Jones W. Lamb, MD, Greenwood, Miss. on 5/8/63. Removal to Rose Hill Cemetery in Oklahoma City, Okla. Wilson & Knight funeral director. Certified copy of record of death by A. L. Gray, MD, State Registrar of Vital Statistics, Jackson, Mississippi.
Date: 8 May 1963
General Source: S45Page: ERL B1 : Doc 3
Note: Commencement exercises were held on June 10, 1938, for graduating seniors. Austin James Rittenhouse appears under Senior Law Class, Bachelor of Laws.
Date: 1938
General Source: S46Page: ERL B1 : Doc 4
Text: "Ron Wilson and Associates Is Pleased to Announce That Austin J. Rittenhouse of Oklahoma City, has joined the firm as an interior designer." Mr. Rittenhouse was a former associate of Warren Ramsey, Incorporated, of Oklahoma City. Prior to his return to his native Oklahoma City, Mr. Rittenhouse was with the Bureau of Foreign Buildings Operations, in the Department of State, Washington, D.C. From 1948 to 1957 he was associated with the firm of T. Miles Gray of New York City in the field of design, display and interior decorating. While in New York City he took specialized courses at Parson's institute of Interior Decoration. In 1955 he lived in Europe studying interior design in Rome, Florence and Madrid.
General Source: S47Page: ERL B1: Doc 5
Note: This page is typed in green ink which was the favorite ink ribbon that Buddy's sister Elizabeth liked to use.
Text: Austin James Rittenhouse II of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma died on May 7 at the home of his sister, Mrs. Jones Weldon lamb, in Greenwood, Mississippi after a lengthly illness. He was 52 years of age. He was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Frank Austin Rittenhouse of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He attended Staunton Military Academy, Staunton, Virginia and was graduated from Central High School, Oklahoma City. He received his B. A. Degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1935 where he was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He received his L.L.B. Degree from Washington and Lee University in 1938. He was a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association and was an attorney in his father's law firm from 1938 to 1942. He was a 2nd Lt. in the Army Air Corps during World War II. In 1943 he was appointed to The Foreign Service Auxiliary and served as Vice-Consul in Maracaibo and La Guaira, Venezuela. In 1946 he returned to Washington D.C. and served in the Department of State in Latin American Affairs Division. After leaving the State Department he was associated with T. Miles Gray, Associates, Industrial Designer, in New York City. Mr. Rittenhouse returned to Oklahoma City in 1958 as a Design Consultant and Interior Decorator. He was a 32 Degree Mason and was active in masonry in Oklahoma City being a member fo Siloam Lodge, India Temple, Knight Templar, Royal Arch Masons and was a member of the Guthrie Consistory. He was a member of the Oklahoma City Glass Club. He was a member of the Episcopal Church. He is survived by one sister, Mrs. Jones Weldon lamb of Greenwood, Mississippi, two nieces and one nephew. By two aunts: Miss Olive R. Rittenhouse of Oklahoma City and Mrs. Edna C. H. Love of Washington, D.C.
Date: 1963
General Source: S48Page: ERL B1 : Doc 6
Text: Power of Attorney. Know All Men By These Presents: That I, Austin J. Rittenhouse, of the City of Maracaibo, State of Zulia, United States of Venezuela do by these presents hereby make, constitute and appoint F. A. Rittenhouse of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, State of Oklahoma, true and lawful attorney in fact for me and in my name, place and stead, to act generally as my agent and attorney ..and to do all acts and things as fully and effectually in all respects as I myself could do if personally present. In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 11th day of February, 1944. /Austin J. Rittenhouse/ Notarized in the United States of Venezuela, State of Zulia, City of Maracaibo, Consulate of the United States of America....
Date: 1944
General Source: S49Page: ERL B1 : Doc 7
Text: For DPUI use only. You need not show this to anyone else. If you object to any question, you need not write the answer on this form. Austin Rittenhuse, dated 10-31-5? (cut off), 4 East 36 Street, NYC 16. Last employer Harris, Upham & Co., 14 Wall Street, phone Rector 2-6300. Stock Brokerage, 1 year. Securities Analyst. Last worked 8-31-52. Pay $7,500 per yr. Do not expect to return to last employer. Regular kind of work is Securities Analyst. Length of service in this work: 1 year - 5 years. What kind of work do you want? Securities Analyst. Circled College 4 for highest grade of school completed. Any special training courses? Law, L.L.B. Degree. Veteran discharged Aug. 1943. Birthdate 3-13-11. Height 5'9", weight 135. No physical defects. No VA Disability rating. Not a union member.
Other employers you worked for longest: Dept. of State, Wash. DC. Address Wash. 25, D.C. Kind of business: Government. Your job when you left: Foreign Affairs Analyst. Rate of pay: $6,900 per yr. Employed from 1943 to 1951. 10 month 1943 to 6 month 1951. Left to accept employment in New York.
Name of Firm. Rittenhouse, Webster, Hanson & Rittenhouse, 315 Leonhardt Building, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Law business, Junior Partner. Employed from 6th month 1937 to 4th month 1942. Left to enter Army.
Date: ABT 0195
General Source: S50Page: ERL B1 : Doc 9
Note: This is a carbon copy of his will. Names and dates are filled in except that Buddy only put his initials.
Text: Last Will and Testament of Austin James Rittenhouse. Know all men by these presents: That I, Austin James Rittenhouse, a resident of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, being of lawful age and of sound and disposing mind, do hereby make, publish and declare this to be my Last Will and Testament, revoking and cancelling all other Wills and Codicils heretofore made by me.
ARTICLE I: DEBTS AND TAXES: I direct my Executrix to pay my just debts and obligations, including the expenses of my last illness and funeral. I also direct my Executrix to pay all inheritance, estate, succession, legacy, income, or other taxes ...
ARTICLE II: DISPOSITION OF MY ESTATE: I devise, give, and bequeath all of my estate of every nature whatsoever to my sister, Elizabeth Rittenhouse Lamb, now of Greenwood, Mississippi, to be hers absolutely. In the event my sister, Elizabeth Rittenhouse Lamb, should have predeceased me, I direct that my estate shall then be devised, given, and bequeathed to her surviving issue upon the principle of representation.
ARTICLE III: EXECUTRIX: I direct that my sister, Elizabeth Rittenhouse Lamb, be appointed sole Executrix of my estate to serve without bond and with full power to sell, mortgage, lease, convey, and reinvest all or any portion of my estate in any manner she shall deem proper, exactly as I could do, and without leave or license of any court except as specifically required by law. Should my sister have predeceased me...I direct that C. D. Ellison and Jones W. lamb shall become Co-Executors of my estate to serve without bond and with like powers.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I, AUSTIN JAMES RITTENHOUSE, subscribe my name to this my Last Will and Testament consisting of two (2) sheets of paper, to each of which I have signed my name for the purpose of identification, this 4 day of October, 1962. /A-J-R/ 3 witnesses including C. D. Ellison, 531 NW 31, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma,
Date: 4 Oct 1962