Rita E. Osterhoudt

Rita E. Osterhoudt

94, of New Carlisle, Ohio lamentably died on March 3 at her daughter’s home in New Carlisle, Ohio. Mrs. Osterhoudt was surrounded at death by her adoring family who fervently praised her long and entirely laudable life. Mrs. Osterhoudt was born, Rita Elizabeth Wilmarth, at her paternal grandmother’s home in Honesdale, Pennsylvania on May 12, 1921. She graduated with honors from Honesdale High School in 1939; attended Moses Taylor Nursing School in nearby Scranton from 1939 to 1941; and married Clarence Burns "Ozzie" Osterhoudt in Montrose, Pennsylvania on September 7, 1941. Rita and Ozzie variously lived and worked in Scranton (Pennsylvania), Teaneck (New Jersey), Hackensack (New Jersey), Chinchilla (Pennsylvania), and State College (Pennsylvania) before their retirement years (from 1988) in Springfield, Ohio. Mr. Osterhoudt was the Railway Express Agent in State College before his thirty-year career as a District Sales Manager for Allstate Insurance Company, also in State College. Rita and Ozzie raised their four children mainly in State College; all four are graduates of State College High School. Mrs. Osterhoudt was preceded in death by her mother, Helen Wilmarth, in 1969; her father, Loyal Wilmarth, in 1974; her husband, Ozzie, in 2004; and her sister, Rosena Slaier, in 2008. She is survived by her four children: William Osterhoudt (Cheryl Mawhinney) of Pomona Park, Florida; Gary Osterhoudt of Chandler, Arizona; Nancy True (Ed) of New Carlisle, Ohio; and Bob Osterhoudt (Barbara) of Sun Lakes, Arizona; by her seven grandchildren: Kris Osterhoudt (Paula) of Queen Creek, Arizona; Nicole Osterhoudt (Steve Chance) of Tempe, Arizona; Richard Fultz (Maggie) of Millerstown, Pennsylvania; Tammy Jo Barkley (Jim) of Papillion, Nebraska; Kirk Osterhoudt (Leah) of Gilbert, Arizona; Randi Jo Coyle (Jon) of Springfield, Ohio; and Jenny Swihart (Rob) of New Carlisle, Ohio; by her eleven great-grandchildren: Lee Hall, Kyle Hall, Taylor Ann Fultz, Zachary Osterhoudt, Derek Osterhoudt, Madison Jo Barkley, Dylan Osterhoudt, Zoe Barkley, Grant Fultz, Jordyn Jo Coyle, and Allie Coyle; by her sole great-great-grand-child, Sydni Stein; and by her ex-daughters-in-law, Kerry Osterhoudt of Tempe, Arizona and Terry Brouse of Lewistown, Pennsylvania. Funeral services for Mrs. Osterhoudt will be held at TROSTEL, CHAPMAN, DUNBAR & FRALEY FUNERAL HOME, 507 W. Jefferson Street, New Carlisle (tel, 937-845-9477) on Saturday, March 5, 2016 at 2:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome instead donations to Hospice of Dayton (324 Wilmington Avenue, Dayton, Ohio 45420), who looked after Rita with luminous competence and deep compassion throughout her final struggle.