July 5, 2009

Keeping it all in the family
A familiar face retires after literally a lifetime of postal service

By Jade McDowell
The Chronicle

     Some people plan for their careers. Others just fall into them. Chuck Ritchie was born into his.
     Ritchie retired Friday after 37 years at the post office in The Dalles. The figure is an impressive one, but Chuck has actually been involved in the postal business for much longer than that.
     He and his identical twin Bill, who recently retired after nearly as many years of service in Vancouver, grew up in the Tygh Valley post office. Their mother was the post master and the office was attached to their house.
     “We were kind of raised in the post office,” Chuck said. “As a matter of fact, when we were kids we used to help Mom dump the big sacks of mail.”
     The brothers speak proudly of their mother, who was awarded “Oregon Postmaster of the Year” in 1959. She remained dedicated to her job until she died unexpectedly at a postmaster’s convention three years later.
     The twins can reminisce at length about their childhood in Tygh Valley, whether it was sneaking up onto the roof, dancing for Mrs. Borg or playing baseball together on the District All-Star Babe Ruth team. They did everything together, although they admit to their share of normal sibling rivalry.
     “We fought like cats and dogs when we were kids, but now we’re more like best friends,” Chuck said.
     No one looking at them today would think the two have ever been anything but best friends. The brothers call each other almost every day. They seamlessly finish each others’ sentences and laugh together often.
     The first time they were separated was in college. They originally started out at the same school, but one day a professor suggested they take some time apart to become their own person.
     “After the first year he called us into his office and said ‘You know what, Ritchie twins, the best thing you could do would be to split up,’” Bill said. “We were too dependent on each other.”
     They took his advice. Chuck transferred to the community college in Ontario and got a degree in law enforcement, while Bill stayed at Central Oregon Community College and got a degree in automotive technology.
     They were further separated by the draft, when Chuck got sent to Korea and Bill served in Germany. Neither one complained- most of their friends ended up in Vietnam.
     After three years in the army both brothers were looking for a steady job. Despite their background, they didn’t start out looking for a job at a post office. However, their roots were calling.
     “You’ve gotta find your niche,” Bill said. “When Chuck found his niche it was at the post office, and same with me.”
     To be precise, Chuck’s niche has been at the end retail window, selling stamps and weighing packages. He has been a familiar face there for over three and a half decades now. Many of his regular customers have expressed sadness at seeing him leave, describing him as one of the nicest people they’ve ever met.
     His coworkers will also miss him greatly.
     “When he leaves, it’s going to be like getting a divorce,” lamented Lee Greenway, his longtime boss.
     Chuck has been at the window for almost his entire career. He started out as a mail carrier but said he quickly started wondering if he would still be up to carrying the mail bags when he was fifty.
     He also got tired of fighting the elements. One day he was walking down a set of front steps when a big pile of snow came crashing down onto his head. It was the last straw. He said he went straight back to the post office and asked if he could transfer to retail, where he has been ever since.
     “It’s tough out there,” he said. “It’s nice in the summertime. It’s wonderful. But in the wintertime it’s not easy to be a carrier. It’s a tough job.”
     He has had some interesting experiences over the years. He said most packages are about the same, but occasionally something funny turns up. He has helped customers send chickens and processed some interesting packages from the high school science department.
     One year a package of feeder crickets got loose. Chuck said it took weeks to get rid of them all, and in the meantime they drove everyone crazy with their incessant chirping.
     He sees all sorts of people, too. In fact, he said, it’s the people he will miss the most. He said he tries to be nice to everyone who comes through, especially those who are less than friendly back.
     “There are people who live a miserable life, and they try to make your life miserable too. Those are the people I try hardest to be friends with.”
     His brother said Chuck has a gift for remembering names and can often get someone’s mail for them without having to ask for their address.
     Chuck said retirement will allow him to spend more time with his wife. The brothers and lifelong friends also plan to buy a boat together and are eagerly anticipating spending more time together.
     His customers will miss him, but it’s time for Chuck Ritchie to take a well-earned rest.