Rita Marie Hollis' Obituary
Rita Marie Langenhan. Hollis, age 85, died on December 22, 2014 in Richardson, Texas. Rita was born on October 24, 1929 in Lakewood, Ohio, the daughter of Herman and Alice Langenhan. Rita was the youngest of three children and had two brothers, Curt and Walter Langenhan. She was raised in Lakewood, Ohio and graduated from Lakewood High School in 1948. Rita attended and graduated from Wittenberg University in Springfield; Ohio in 1950 where she majored in education. While at Wittenberg, Rita was active in Gamma Phi Beta Sorority and attended summer school each year. She met and fell in love with Robert Hollis. They were married August 23, 1950. Rita taught physical education and English in Strongsville, Ohio before the birth of their first daughter, Nancy in 1951. Their family was completed with the birth of Sandy in 1954. Cleveland, Ohio was their home until Rita followed Bob on an adventure beginning in 1967. His job moved them to several states including North Carolina, Texas, Michigan, Ohio, New York, and South Carolina before finally retiring back in Dallas, Texas in 1987 where their daughters lived. Rita was a devoted member of the United Methodist church and was very active in Sunday School and other organizations at church. Rita enjoyed sewing as a hobby and turned it into a profession working at Kay’s Fabrics in Richardson, Texas for many years. Rita loved her family and they kept her happy and busy later in life. Robert, her husband of 62 years, preceded her in death in 2013. She is survived by two daughters, Nancy and Sandy, sons-in-law, Jim Sowards and Steven Hinton; grandchildren, Tracey Dry, Amy Moore, Michael Sowards, Cory Sowards, Michael Hinton, Jamie Wiseman, Andrew Hinton, Ryan Dry, Travis Moore and Glenn Wiseman; and great grandchildren, Dylan, Ella and Dalton Dry, Rhianna Hinton, and Emily and Luke Moore, and Oliver and Malley Wiseman. Rita was truly a spark of joy and hope in the lives of all who knew her. She was warm and witty, mischievous and compassionate, courageous yet vulnerable and above all loved by everyone she met. She will be missed. A reception will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, December 27, 2014 in the chapel at Custer Road Methodist Church of Plano with the funeral service to follow at 2:00 PM.
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