Thursday, August 30th, 2012
Rita Gibbons
Rita E. Gibbons, 89, Celina, died at 7:15 a.m. on Aug. 28, 2012, at Otterbein St. Marys Retirement Community.
She was born Sept. 6, 1922, in Celina, to Albert and Nora (Fortman) Mersman. On June 2, 1945, she married John C. Gibbons, who died Dec. 12, 2008.
Surviving are two sons, John (Pamela) Gibbons, Sonoma, Calif., and Kim (Cindy) Gibbons, Celina; three daughters, Susan (Jim) Buschur, Fort Wayne, Ind., Beverly (Mark) Kuenning, Celina, and Kathy (Dan) Kennard, Findlay; a sister, Dorothy Stover, Celina; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Deceased are brothers and sisters-in-law, Tom and Dib Mersman, Paul and Helen Mersman and Fred and Helen Mersman; sisters and brothers-in-law, Mary and Walter Vanderhorst, Ruth Mersman, Helen Mersman and William Stover Jr.
She graduated from Celina Immaculate Conception High School in 1940 and received her nursing degree from Good Samaritan Nursing School in Cincinnati before working at Goodyear Tire & Rubber in St. Marys and Gibbons Hospital in Celina. She volunteered with the Red Cross at the Mercer County Fair and was the Immaculate Conception School nurse for several years.
She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and its Altar Rosary Sodality. She served on the Mercer County Board of Elections and was a member of the Phi Beta Psi sorority and the Mercer County Elks.
Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Monday at the church, the Rev. James Dugal officiating. Burial will follow in St. Marys Catholic Cemetery, Celina.
Calling is 2-7 p.m. Sunday and before 10 a.m. Monday at Lehman-Hogenkamp-Dzendzel Funeral Home, Celina.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Education Endowment of Immaculate Conception or the Otterbein of St. Marys Retirement Community.
Condolences may be made at LHDfuneralhome.com.
