Rita Villarreal Waller was born on March 2, 1924 in Granger, Texas to Jesus and Maria Trevino Villarreal. She was one of seven children and with five brothers and one sister, she was a tomboy. She was fluent in Spanish and when she was grown she moved to San Francisco to be a translator. She met her U.S. Marine husband, Robert Nelson Waller while living there. They married in Reno, Nevada and she went to Alexandria, VA to live with his parents until he came home from World War II. After a few years they moved to Rockville, Maryland where they raised their two children Mary Courtenay and Robert Nelson, Jr. When Robert retired they moved to Fripp Island, SC and spent many wonderful retirement years playing tennis and golf.
Rita was a talented artist, seamstress, and loved to cook. She and Robert were married for 65 years. After he died Rita moved to Jacksonville, Florida to be near family. Rita is survived by her daughter, Mary Frindt (Glenn), her son Robert Waller Jr. (Rhonda), her grandchildren, Courtenay Page (Scott), Robert Waller III (Jenny) and Mandy Alvizo (Joaquin), and ten great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren. She loved being with them and seeing pictures of the ones who lived far away. At 101 years old, she had a good full life!
