Rita A. (Maurer) Schmidt

Rita A. Schmidt, 75, of Findlay, passed away Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at the Bridge Hospice Care Center in Findlay, Ohio.  She was born in Barberton, Ohio, on July 30, 1948, to the late Richard and Edith (Schroer) Maurer.  She married her husband, Don K. Schmidt, on June 13, 1970, and he preceded her in death on August 8, 2017.

Rita is survived by her three children: Mark (Anna) Schmidt of Cincinnati, Chris (Maggie) Schmidt of Columbus, and Faith (Travis) Gingerich of Bluffton; ten grandchildren: Maeve, Liesel and Maribel Schmidt, Ethan, Caroline, Hannah, and Levi Schmidt, and Titus, Ian and Jace Gingerich; her brother, Paul (Shirley) Maurer; and her sister-in-law, Sara Maurer.  In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her brother Don Maurer.

Rita grew up in New Knoxville, Ohio and was a 1966 graduate of New Knoxville High School.  She graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Education degree, and later, the University of Findlay with a Masters Degree in Education.  She taught at Liberty Benton Schools, Vanlue Local Schools, and spent the majority of her career teaching special education for Findlay City Schools.

Rita's passion for teaching was manifested in her love of teaching children about Jesus.  She was a member of the Findlay First Church of the Nazarene, where she taught children's Sunday school.  She was a longtime volunteer, and board member, of Child Evangelism Fellowship of West Central Ohio, and also a member and leader in Bible Study Fellowship.  In her freetime, she enjoyed gardening, sewing, cooking, and lived a devoted life of service to her family that she loved and her friends that she held so dear.

Visitation for Rita will be held on Monday, June 3, 2024, from 2:00PM-4:00PM and 6:00PM-8:00PM at Kirkpatrick-Behnke Funeral Home, 500 Lima Avenue, Findlay, Ohio, 45840.  Additional visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, from 10:00AM, until the time of her funeral at 11:00AM, at Findlay First Church of the Nazarene, 2501 Broad Avenue, Findlay, Ohio.  Burial will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery.  Donations in her memory may be shared with Bible Study Fellowship at bsfinternational.org, or Child Evangelism Fellowship at cefofwestcentral.org.  Online condolences may be shared with her family at kirkpatrickbehnke.com.

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