Rita Danielle Tinnin Lee, age 70, passed away on April 12th, 2025. Rita was born on January 18, 1955, in Stockton California to Lawrence Lemuel Tinnin and Alice Claire Fontaine Tinnin. Rita lived most of her youth in California. She met and married her first husband Larry Edward Swanson. She later met and married the love of her life, her second husband Ronald Elwynn Lee. They met in the Army stationed at Fort Hood Texas and were married on February 24th, 1979, in Stockton California, and from this marriage came their children, Andrew, Paul, John and Jeannette Lee. Ronald and Rita moved to Corpus Christi Texas in July of 1985 where Ronald became the safety officer and later a test pilot for Corpus Christi Army Depot. Rita worked for the Flour Bluff ISD as a bus driver from 1993 till 2000. She was an active member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Flour Bluff for many years. Rita is preceded in death by her husband Ronald Lee in 2001, her father Lawrence L Tinnin on November 7th, 1957, her mother Alice C. Fontaine Tinnin on January 30th, 2005, her sister Roberta D. Tinnin on December 3rd, 2011, her nephew Randall D. Tinnin on January 9th 2007, Ronald’s mother Edwinna Wittman on July 28th 2016 and her husband Dale Wittman on July 7th 2020 and Ronald’s sister Lorna Blochowiak on November 9th 2024. Rita served in the US Army as a Specialist from 1975-1977. Rita is survived by her children, Andrew L. Lee Corpus Christi Texas, Paul C. Lee of Corpus Christi Texas John M. (Bettie) Lee of Carrolton Texas, Jeannette N. Lee of Los Angeles California, her two stepdaughters Dawn M. Lee of Oklahoma City Oklahoma, Julie A. Lee Krodel (Matthew) of Oklahoma City Oklahoma, 5 brother and sisters -in-laws, James M. Lee of Shawnee Oklahoma, Kendal (Kellie) Lee of Shawnee Oklahoma, Victor M. (Sharla) Lee of Dale Oklahoma, Judy J. (Eddie) Aguirre of Tecumseh Oklahoma and Carla (James) Craig of Poteau Oklahoma. Three brothers Robert D. Tinnin of Washoe Valley Nevada, Roger D. Tinnin of Corpus Christi Texas and Rene D. Tinnin of Stockton California. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Samuel Broyles of Moore Oklahoma, Solomon Broyles of Draper Utah, Abigail Broyles of Oklahoma City Oklahoma, Alexis Juliette Lee of Corpus Christi Texas, Sofia Cabrera of Carrollton Texas, Margaret Rose Krodel and Mary Kathleen Krodel of Oklahoma City Oklahoma and her great grandchild Elias Emilio Corona, numerous nephews and nieces, friends and loved ones.
A visitation for Rita will be held Friday, May 2, 2025 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Memory Gardens Funeral Home & Cemetery, 8200 Old Brownsville Road, Corpus Christi, Texas 78415. A holy rosary will occur Friday, May 2, 2025 at 7:00 PM, 8200 Old Brownsville Road, Corpus Christi, Texas 78415. A funeral mass will occur Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 10:00 AM at St. Paul The Apostle Catholic Church, 2233 Waldron Rd., Corpus Christi, Texas. A burial will occur Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 11:30 AM at Memory Gardens Cemetery.
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