Rita Marie (White) Rathburn made her life debut July 10, 1947 and exited life's drama on April 23, 2011. She was a lifelong Catholic who believed in God's love and eternal life in the Spirit; a graduate of Columbus South High School (Class of '65); a fan of folk, country, and rock-and-roll music, singing, and traveling. She recently enjoyed opportunities to act with the Gillie Players Acting Troupe. Her favorite roles in life were being mother to her daughter Kathleen and son Anthony, and grandmother to Ashley, Savannah, and Robert. She wore many professional hats in a variety of careers: telephone operator, police officer for both the city and state of Ohio, bus driver for the Franklin County Board of MRDD, and pizza delivery driver. When her son was murdered at age 14, she became a member of Parents of Murdered Children and Homicide Survivors. She also volunteered with the Ohio Dept. of Youth Services/Office of Victim Services by going to juvenile detention centers and assisting with teaching Victim Awareness Classes and explaining the effects of crime as a Victim Impact Panelist. She was preceded in death by her parents Paul and Anna May (Aschner) White, older twin sisters Mary Lou and Betty Lou, younger sister Theresa Agnes, son Anthony, and sister-in-law Shirley (Ruff) White. Left behind to cherish memories of Rita's role in each of our lives are: daughter Kat Lawson (Josh); grandchildren Ashley, Savannah, and Robert; siblings Paul Joseph White Sr., Patty (Bob) Evans, and Mary Anne White; many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends too numerous to mention. Family and friends will gather to celebrate Rita's life on Thursday, April 28th, 2011 at 6:00p.m. with a service at 7:30 p.m. at the O.R. WOODYARD CO. SOUTH CHAPEL, 1346 S. High Street, Columbus, Ohio. Cemetery Details Saint Joseph Cemetery 6440 South High Street Lockbourne, OH 43137 Loading map Previous Events Memorial Service APR 28. 7:30 PM (ET) O. R. Woodyard Co. Funeral & Cremation Services - South Chapel 1346 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43207 Loading map