Rita Oletta Knowles, 76, longtime resident of Poneto, passed away Wednesday morning, April 19, 2023, at Christian Care Retirement Community.
Rita was born in Portland, Ind. on Dec. 15, 1946, a daughter of the late Nilah E (Reynolds) and Percy R Smith.
Rita is survived by her sister Ghlee Dobbins and preceded in death by her sister Betty Kistler.
Rita married the late Marlin Allen Knowles, Sr in Muskegon, Mich. on June 3, 1966. Together they raised their four children: Lacey Knowles (Rebecca), Mak Knowles (Jennifer), Sara Muller (Rodney), and Jordan Knowles (Marie). Rita is loved by her seven grandchildren: Emma, Price, Sadie, Emmett, Myrtle, Asa, and Nilah.
Rita was a 1965 graduate of Bluffton High School and attended IU. Rita was a 23-year veteran of the US Postal Service. She was the Director of Transportation at the Council on Aging. Rita most recently was elected Council Member of the Town of Poneto, where she was a proud resident since the age of 4.
Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at the Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton. Burial will follow at Grove Cemetery in Poneto.
Visitation will be held from 3-7 p.m., Friday, April 21, at Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton, and for one hour prior to the service on Saturday.
Memorials may be made in Rita’s name to the Wells County 4-H Backpack program or to the Poneto Volunteer Fire Department, and can be sent through the funeral home.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Lemler family of Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton. Friends can send online condolences to the family at www.thomarich.com.