Rita E. (Mersman) Gibbons, age 89, of 630 N. Cherry St. Celina, Ohio passed away at 7:15a.m. on Tuesday, August 28, 2012 at the Otterbein St. Marys Retirement Community. She was born on September 06, 1922 in Celina, Ohio to the late Albert and Nora (Fortman) Mersman. On June 2, 1945 she married John C. Gibbons, who died Dec. 12, 2008. Rita is survived by: sons & daughters-in-law John & Pamela Gibbons of Sonoma, CA, Kim & Cindy Gibbons of Celina, daughters & sons-in-law Susan & Jim Buschur of Ft. Wayne, Beverly & Mark Kuenning of Celina, Kathy & Dan Kennard of Findley, 8 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, sister Dorothy Stover of Celina, many Friends and was loved by all. She was preceded in death by: brothers & sisters-in-law Tom & Dib Mersman, Paul & Helen Mersman, Fred & Helen Mersman, sisters & brothers-in-law Mary & Walter Vanderhorst, Ruth Mersman, Helen Mersman and William Stover Jr. She graduated from I.C. High School in 1940 and received her nursing degree from Good Samaritan Nursing School in Cincinnati. She was then employed at Goodyear Tire & Rubber in St. Marys and Gibbons Hospital in Celina. She volunteered with the Red Cross at the Mercer County Fair as a Nurse and was the Immaculate Conception School Nurse for several years. She served on the Mercer County Board of Elections. She was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Celina and the Alter Rosary Sodality at the Immaculate Conception Church, PHI BETA PSI sorority, and the Mercer County Elks. She was an Avid Golfer and enjoyed playing Bridge. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday September 3, 2012 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Celina, with Fr. James Dugal officiating. Burial will follow in St. Marys Catholic Cemetery in Celina. Friends may call from 2-7p.m. on Sunday September 2, 2012 and before 10a.m. on Monday at the Lehman-Hogenkamp-Dzendzel Funeral Home in Celina. Memorial contributions may be made to the Education Endowment of Immaculate Conception or the Otterbein of St. Marys Retirement Community. Condolences may be made at LHDfuneralhome.com.
