Lorita (Rita) Mae Wolf Fitzgerald of Victoria, 84, passed away on April 18, 2017. She was born in Cuero on Sept. 20, 1932; adopted by the late Werner F.C. Wolf and Lorene Semmler Wolf. Late in life, she was united with part of her biological family. She attended Green DeWitt School, and graduated from Cuero High School in 1950. Rita married Jack Collier Fitzgerald on June 1, 1952. They were happily married for 64 years, and raised two daughters, Karen Fitzgerald Finley and Jacquelyn Fitzgerald Lev. Rita and Jack lived in California from 1952 to 1958, and then settled in Cuero before moving to Victoria in 1986.
Rita worked as a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell from 1950 to 1952 and as a payroll clerk for the Toledo Scale Company from 1956 to 1958. Later, she volunteered at the Cuero Hospital as a Pink Lady.
She was a member of First English Lutheran Church, and is survived by her husband Jack Fitzgerald; her daughters, Karen (John) Finley and Jacquelyn (Michael) Lev; brothers, Don and Tommy Best; sisters, Doris Wolf Goebel and Sandi Best; grandchildren, Marshall (Shannon) McLain, Forrest (Melissa) McLain, Morgan Rath, Logan Fitzgerald, Tori Lev, Tessa Lev, Dameon (Lindsey) Lev and Justin (Camille) Lev; and multiple great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, James Best and Billy Wayne Sutton.
Pallbearers are John Finley, Michael Lev, Forrest McLain, Marshall McLain, Logan Fitzgerald, and Dennis Shay. Honorary pallbearers are Clifford Goebel and O’Dell White, Jr.
Visitation was held at the First English Lutheran Church on Thursday, April 20 that was from 6-8 p.m. Funeral Services are at First English Lutheran Church on Friday, April 21 at 10 a.m. with Pastor Jim Pearson, who officiated. Burial is at Memory Gardens Cemetery.
To leave a comforting message, or to share a fond memory, please visit www.gracefuneralhome.net.
Memorials may be made to Bluebonnet Youth Ranch or First English Lutheran Church.