She was born September 29, 1964 at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene the daughter of James W. McDow and the late Beatrice Williams McDow. She was a 1982 graduate of Yorktown High School and attended Thomas Nelson Community College. From there she went to work at the Naval weapons Station in Yorktown, Virginia. The last twenty years, she dedicated her life to working as a houseparent at the Concho Valley Home for Girls in San Angelo. Despite not having children of her own, she became mentor, the godly parent but mostly “Mother” to many young ladies who were placed in her care. Rita dearly loved, enjoyed, inspired cooking for these young ladies and taught many of them the fine art of cooking. Her family and friends were no exceptions to the love she shared through her talents of cooking. Everyone remembers all the cakes, pies, cinnamon rolls, cookies and………….everything else delicious to eat.
Rita’s journey of faith began at Holiday Hills Baptist Church in Abilene, Texas. When she moved to San Angelo, she became a member of Paul Ann nondenominational church where she willingly served dutifully, faithfully, and unconditionally everyone who crossed her path. She knew no strangers.
Rita was preceded in death by her grandfather, Emmitt Williams, Sr., her grandmother, Easter Bell McDow, her uncle, Emmitt Williams Jr., her mother, Beatrice McDow, her aunt Ida Ruth Williams, her aunt Wilma Hall and her uncle Jess B. Williams.
She leaves to cherish her passing with fond memories, her father, James McDow Sr. and his wife Margie, brothers James McDow Jr. and wife Sherron, brothers Michael Downey, Brian McDow, and George McDow, sister Thelma Gray and husband Steven, grandmother, Lillian Williiams, four aunts, two uncles, and several nieces and nephews, a great-nephew, several cousins and other relatives and many friends.
Rita’s family would like to extend a special thanks to all of the staff at Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, Bishop Pfeifer, Pastor Phil Todd, Sammi, Kelli, Stella and Rebecca and all those who shared their love and support for her on Facebook.
