Rita F. Shonkwiler

Rita F. Shonkwiler, 87, of Greenfield, died on Thursday, May 12, 2022, at her home following a brief illness. She was born on Wednesday, September 26, 1934, in Greenfield, the daughter of the late William J. and Icy Parks Baxla. Rita married Charles O. Shonkwiler on May 31, 1952, and they shared sixty-nine years together until his death on March 29, 2022.  

She is survived by their children; Charles (Karen) Shonkwiler of Fairborn, John Shonkwiler of Greenfield and Gwen Harbison of Batavia, seven grandchildren; Sarah Dawley, Joel (Suzanne) Shonkwiler, Hannah (Jon) Scruggs, Jeremy (Carrie) Lovely, Kenneth (Emily) Shonkwiler, Matthew Shonkwiler and Lori Shonkwiler, eleven great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild, one sister; Phyllis P. Willis of Greenfield and one brother; Loren (Donna) Baxla of St. Petersburg, FL. She was preceded in death by five sisters: Wilma Smith, Viva Nell Black, Waneta Wallace, Martha Divney and Erma Butler and one brother, Sherryl Baxla.

Rita was a 1952 graduate of the Edward Lee McClain High School. She was a member of the Greenfield First United Methodist Church and had been a longtime member of the Homemakers Club.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, in the ANDERSON-EBRIGHT FUNERAL HOME, Greenfield with Rev. Dr. Aaron Chivington officiating. Following the service, a private family burial will be in the Greenfield Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Wednesday from noon until the time of the service at the funeral home. With the recent death of their father, Rita’s family kindly asks that instead of flowers, memorial contributions be made in Rita’s name to the Adena Hospice or the Greenfield First United Methodist Church.

To view Rita's funeral service recording CLICK HERE