Rita Jane Wanstrath's Obituary
Rita Jane Wanstrath, age 86 of Batesville, died Tuesday, May 26, 2009, at University Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. Born April 5, 1923 in Oldenburg, Indiana, she is the daughter of Ida (Nee: Borchelt) and John Gehring. She married Norman “Pete” Wanstrath August 21, 1948 at Holy Family Church in Oldenburg. She was a homemaker and worked as a secretary for the Oldenburg Garage, Romweber’s and the Batesville School Corporation before marrying.Raising a family of eight, Rita Jane was protective and dedicated to her family. She was an excellent cook and her family fondly remembers her pies and the certainty that there would be a fight for who would get the last piece. She enjoyed spending her quiet time painting, sewing, making crafts and working crossword puzzles. In later years, Rita Jane and Pete enjoyed traveling at home and abroad. Among some of their more memorable trips were visits to Austria, Germany and Hawaii. She is survived by her husband Pete; daughters Lu Ann Zeszut of Cincinnati; Jan Carlson of Ft. Myers Beach, Florida; Julie Jackson of Dayton, Ohio; sons Ken, Randy, Russ and Jim Wanstrath, all of Batesville; 14 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she is also preceded in death by her son Glenn; sisters Cleo Bowman, Normanda Cook, Mary Byrum, Martha Rapp, Edwina Scharfenberger and brother Leander Gehring. Visitation is Thursday, May 28th, from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral home. Funeral services are 10 a.m. Friday, May 29th, at St. Louis Church with Rev. Dennis Duvelius officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family requests memorials to the Parkinson Disease Foundation or Batesville E.M.S. 10.
What’s your fondest memory of Rita?
What’s a lesson you learned from Rita?
Share a story where Rita's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Rita you’ll never forget.
How did Rita make you smile?