Rita F. Hewitt, 80, Waldron

Rita F. Hewitt, 80, of Waldron passed away from this life peacefully in her home surrounded by her loving family on Jan. 5, 2020.

She was born Nov. 1, 1939, in Shelbyville to Dillard M. and Freda E. Magee. She grew up in the Walkerville neighborhood and graduated from Shelbyville High School in 1957. She married Donald (Gene) Hewitt from Waldron in 1958.

In high school, Rita worked as a car hop at the Chicken and Steak Inn in Shelbyville, where she first met Gene, a frequent patron. She also worked for the Rytex Stationery Co. in Indianapolis before her marriage. She was employed as a key punch operator by Purdue University from 1960 to 1964 and by National Homes of Lafayette from 1968 to 1975. She was also the bookkeeper for Hewitt Manufacturing Co. from 1975 to 1994. 

She was very active in the Waldron United Methodist Church and the Shelby County Extension Homemakers. She loved spending time with her grandchildren, card club, gardening and decorating for the seasons. She was an excellent cook and enjoyed entertaining family and friends.

After Gene was discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1959, they moved to West Lafayette while Gene attended Purdue University. Upon graduation from Purdue, he accepted a position with General Electric and they lived in Hickory, N.C., Cincinnati, San Jose, California, Fort Wayne and Lafayette. They moved to Waldron in 1975, where they restored their 1840s era home.

She is survived by her husband Gene, son Donald Gene Hewitt Jr. (Danielle) of Hope, and daughter Michelle Graves (Steve) of Frankfort, Kentucky, along with her beloved grandchildren Matthew Hewitt (Heather) and great grandson Hudson of Forest Park, Illinois; Joshua Hewitt (Dayane) of West Lafayette, Rebecca Graves of Frankfort, Kentucky and Jacob Graves of Frankfort, Kentucky. Also surviving are her sisters, Joan Patterson (Harold) of Shelbyville and Cheryl Thompson (Jim) of Brazil,. She is also survived by 12 nieces and nephews and 12 great nieces and great nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and sisters, Mary Jane Harrel Towns and Virginia McNeely.

Arrangements have been made through Murphy-Parks Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9th at the Waldron United Methodist Church in Waldron.

Services will be at the church at 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 10th with burial following at the Lewis Creek Baptist Church cemetery in Wilson. Memorials can be made to the Waldron United Methodist Church or the Shelby County Cancer Society.