Rita Jo Howell, age 80, of Wilmington, passed away peacefully Monday, January 3, 2022 at Ohio Living Quaker Heights, Waynesville. She was born January 11, 1941 in Xenia, Ohio the daughter of the late Albert and Ada (Mills) McKay. Rita attended Kingman High School, and had been a member of the Wilmington Mother’s Club and Miami Chapter #107 Order of the Eastern Star, Waynesville. She had been a 10-year employee of the Wilmington Publishing Company, she then started driving a school bus for the Wilmington City Schools, a job she held for more than 40 years. Rita was an avid bowler and gardener, and loved to clean her home. There was never a dirty window in her home. Most especially, Rita loved her family, she adored her husband and children. But her grandchildren, and great grandchildren were the ones who consumed her heart. Rita is survived by three daughters, Karen (Ken) Eifert of Troy, Alabama, Kathy (Craig) Borton of Wilmington, and Kimberly (Damian) Snyder of Wilmington; grandchildren, Evan W. (Ashley) Greene of Lore City, Ohio, Andrew “Andy” Borton of Wilmington, Alan (Alisha) Borton of Wilmington, Raegan (Dylan) Eltzroth of Defiance, Brynne Snyder of Wilmington, Kari Jo Snyder of Wilmington, Tiffany (Bill) Cochran of Columbus, and Christopher Eifert of Columbus; great grandchildren, Ty Greene, Justin Greene, Savannah Greene, Sydney Greene, Asher Cochran, Annalynn Cochran, Natalie Borton, Elizabeth “Charlie” Borton, and Kendyl Eltzroth; and siblings, Jeannette (Vernon) Musser of Columbus, Rosalie (John) Beers of Wilmington, and Frank McKay of Wilmington. In addition to her parents, Rita is preceded in death by the love of her life, her husband John W. Howell on September 29, 2020; grandson Eric Greene; sister and brother-in-law Lois and Duane Ervin; brothers and sisters-in-law, Wilbur and Ada McKay, Robert and Anamae McKay, and Richard and Joan McKay; and sister-in-law Judy McKay. Order of Eastern Star Services will be held 1:00 p.m. Saturday, January 8, 2022, immediately followed by Funeral Services at Brown Funeral Home, Wilmington. Jeremiah Lewis will officiate the funeral service. Burial will follow in the New Burlington Cemetery. Visitation will be held Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service at 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial donations are directed to Wilmington City Schools, Transportation Department, 341 S. Nelson Avenue, Wilmington, Ohio 45177. For more information, or to leave an on-line condolence, please visit www.arehart-brown.com or see our Facebook page, Brown Funeral Home.
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