Rita M. Gustin

Rita M. (Kramer) Gustin, age 95, of Dayton, died Friday, November 4, 2016.  She was born January 31, 1921 in Coldwater, to the late Jacob & Theresa (Gels) Kramer.   She is survived by five children, Thomas W. (Joyce) Gustin of Xenia, Mary R.  Schommer of Marietta, Paula M. (Bernie) Benson of Bethesda, Maryland, Angela M. Bryant of Vandalia and Robert J. (Reeva) Gustin of Huntsville, Alabama; eight grandchildren; ten great grandchildren and a brother in law Les Brandewie of Celina.  She is preceded in death by siblings Fr. William Kramer C.PP.S., Marie & Eddie Kennedy, Arnold & Ruth Kramer, Sr. Ruth Kramer and Dorothy Brandewie.

She was a member of St. Charles Borromeo in Kettering. Rita Mary Kramer graduated from Coldwater High School in 1938, was class valedictorian and editor-in-chief of the yearbook the “Telescope”. Rita, as a novitiate, studied music at St. Mary-of-the-Woods College from 1939 to 1944, she was a member of the college orchestra one year, the Novitiate Orchestra for two years and conducting the orchestra for 1 year. Rita was “employed” as a music supervisor for grammar schools by the Sisters of Providence at St. Mary-of-the-Woods College from 1941 to 1945. Rita enlisted in the US Navy on April 30, 1945, she served as a Mathematical Assistant in Sonar Research, until her discharge in June 1946, as a Seaman First Class. She then attended the University of Dayton and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1948. She worked as a clerk at the Dayton Post Office while attending school, where she met her husband William P. Gustin Jr., Rita worked as a civilian (Scientist, Mathematician, Engineer) for the Department of the Air Force at Wright Patterson AFB from 1952 until 1979, retiring at a grade 13 Step 9, with her last position as an Electronics Engineer for the Aeronautical Division, AF Avionics Laboratory.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, November 8, 2016 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Coldwater. Burial will follow in St. Elizabeth Cemetery.  Friends may call from 11:30 to 1:30 PM on Tuesday at Hogenkamp Funeral Home, Coldwater. Condolences may be left at hogenkampfh.com.