Rita Ryan Aylward

AYLWARD, Rita Ryan, born in New Orleans, Louisiana March 11, 1919, passed away May 26, 2015 in Midlothian after a short illness. The fourth of seven children, Rita lost her mother at age 12 and went to work early, first at a commercial laundry and later as a lunch counter server. With the coming of World War II, she found employment as a material inspector at the Consolidated Aircraft assembly plant in New Orleans, building the PBY Catalina Flying Boat.

Following the end of the war, Rita began her long career as a telephone worker in New Orleans with Southern Bell and later after moving to Connecticut in 1953, at The Southern New England Telephone Company, where she eventually became a telephone supervisor. Rita’s sunny disposition always made her very popular with her co-workers including girls half her age. In addition to her duties with the phone company, Rita found time to make a comfortable home for her husband and children. In 1975, following the loss of her husband, Rita retired and returned to New Orleans where she enjoyed the company of her large family and many friends. While living in New Orleans, Rita, who always loved to dance, participated in theatrical productions and was once queen of a Mardi Gras parade and ball. She was also very active in The Red Hatters Club. In 1995 Rita found a new home in Virginia, where she could be closer to her children and grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, Rita was preceded in death by her loving husband, Arthur Thomas Aylward; her sisters, Iris Ryan, Estelle Ryan Gerding, Claire Ryan Desmares; and three brothers, Edward Ryan, Martin Ryan and Harold Ryan.

Surviving are her son, Prentiss Davis and wife, Helen, of Midlothian; her son, Arthur Aylward and wife, Karen, of Moseley; stepdaughters, Veronica Aylward Binzley and husband, Richard, of Shaker Heights, Ohio and Arlene Aylward Rodriguez and husband, Richard, of Fairfield, California; grandchildren, Kimberly Harris and husband, Matthew, of Midlothian, Jennifer Meharg and husband, Jarrett, of North Chesterfield, Jessica Vellucci and husband, Matthew, of Midlothian, Christopher Aylward and fiancee, Stephanie Wilkinson, of Herndon; and great-grandson, Wyatt Harris of Midlothian.

Visitation is Tuesday, June 9, 6 to 8 p.m., at Woody Funeral Home, Midlothian. A Mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. Wednesday, at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church, where Rita was a longtime parishioner.