Oliver Ditch Obituary

Colonel Oliver Perry "O.P." Ditch USAF Retired, age 85 of Elkridge, Md. passed away peacefully on July 10th, 2023.

O.P. was born in Lafayette, La., on September 29, 1937, to Martha Eve Broussard and Melvin Francis Ditch. He attended Cathedral High School. In 1958, he married his college sweetheart, Shirley Ann LeBlanc from Abbeville, La. He received a bachelor's degree from Southwestern Louisiana Institute "Ragin' Cajuns" in 1959. He served 22 years in the USAF. He served in Vietnam and was awarded the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Oak-leaf clusters, and other medals. He worked for Hughes Aircraft Co. for 13 years. In 1996, he founded InterPublishing Group with his partner Ed Bayne, bringing web site development to Prince William County, Va. He was active in various U.S. military support groups during the Afghanistan and Iraq operations. He was President of the Howard County Republican Club, Md. from 2010 to 2013. In 2013, he became a member of the Catholic War Veterans of America. He was a big fan of the Baltimore Orioles and became an avid hunter and enjoyed several hunting trips to Texas with his son, David, and his grandson, Steven.

O.P. is preceded in death by his father Melvin and his mother Martha and Aunt "Cille," and his brothers Melvin, Roland, and Lionel, and his sisters Elaine and Patricia. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Shirley and his children Karen, Perry, Richard, and David and wife Lucia, and eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

A viewing and Mass of Christian Burial was held on Friday, July 14, 2023 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church. Burial will be at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 4795 Ilchester Rd, Ellicott City, MD 21043 or St Michael Center for Veterans, PO Box 3177, Lafayette, LA 70501. Online condolences may be made at www.harrywitzkefuneralhome.com.