Rita Anne Bland

Rita Anne (Heinze) Bland, 91, of Fairborn, passed away on November 21, 2024. She was born and raised in Quincy, Illinois, the middle child of Alfred and Edith (Kohl) Heinze. One of the joys in her life was being an award-winning majorette for the Quincy Notre Dame H.S. Marching Band. After graduating from the ERT Institute in Omaha, Nebraska, she moved to Dayton, Ohio to start her civil service career. While working at Gentile Air Force Station, she met her future husband, Duane Bland. Rita was a longtime member of the Mary, Help of Christians Church parish, where she served as a nursing home Eucharistic minister and president of the Altar Rosary Society. Along with volunteering her time at several local charities, she enjoyed traveling, dancing, organizing garage sales, and carrying on her mother's tradition of making crocheted scrubbers for family and friends.

Rita was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Don, Russ and Ken; grandson, Rusty; beloved son, Ron; and loving husband of 68 years, Duane. She is survived by her daughter, Jayne; daughter-in-law, Peggy; granddaughter, Kait; brother, Jim; sisters-in-law, Judy and Bessie; dear cousins, nieces and nephews; and lifelong friends back in Quincy, Margaret Huelsmeyer and Ann Hoebing.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, November 26, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Mary, Help of Christians Church, 954 N. Maple Street in Fairborn, with Father Patrick Blenman as Celebrant. The family will receive friends at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. A private burial will be held at a later date. If desired, donations in Rita's memory may be made to the hospice organization of your choice. Final arrangements are being handled by Burcham Tobias Funeral Home.