Rita Johanna Cordes

28April 1928 - 11 October 2012

Rita was the only child born to Benedict Leitner and Anna Huber Leitner in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. She spent her early childhood in Brannenburg before moving back to Munich during WWII. After the War, Rita worked as a bookkeeper using mechanical adding machines. She soon met the love of her life, Edmund A. Cordes, SMSgt, USAF, and she was the first girl in her suburb (Liam) to marry an American. Rita and Edmund landed in New York City on Christmas Eve 1951 via US military troop ship. After a whirlwind of parties to meet "all the Cordes/Foley family" in Chicago, the AF assigned Edmund to Eglin AFB, FL, where their daughter Dorothy Jean (Dorie) was born. Rita made proficiency in English and becoming an American citizen top priorities, which she quickly achieved. Three years later, they were transferred to Chateauroux AFB, France, where their son Michael Robert (Mike) was born. Later AF assignments included WA and CA. Edmund preceded her in death in 1976 and Rita decided to go to college to restart her career as a bookkeeper! She easily mastered computer spreadsheets, graduated college, worked for Blue Diamond Almonds. As always, she succeeded in her business career to become an accountant in an executive's office before retiring in 1997. Rita then told her son-in-law, "Move over, here I come!" and lived with Jerry and Dorie (Porter) in Edmond, OK until her death. Rita loved opera, traveling and studying history. She was an accomplished seamstress, cook, gardener, artist, and a master of every other needle art imaginable. Throughout her life, Rita gave her heart and talents to volunteer work for the Catholic Altar Ladies, Food Banks and Boy and Girl Scouts. Rita forever became "Oma" with the birth of her grandchildren: Jennie (Jon), Kip (Normandy), Nate, Daniel, and Derrick, who all survive her. Oma was also blessed to become a great-grandmother to JD (Jennie) and Evie and Koko (Kip). Rita rests in eternal peace in Fair Oaks, CA.

Services entrusted to the care of Baggerley Funeral Home of Edmond, Oklahoma. www.baggerley.com