Rita Lynne Handley

Rita Lynne (Myrtle) Handley, 69, of Stuarts Draft, passed away on Wednesday May 12, 2021 at the Shenandoah Hospice House, surrounded by her immediate family. Mrs. Handley was born on November 17, 1951 in Waynesboro, to the late Billy Burke and Ruth Kathaleen (Dunn) Myrtle. She was a 1970 graduate of Waynesboro High School. In June 1973, she graduated from Rockingham Memorial School of Nursing, then immediately began a 30 year long career as a nurse. Rita worked in many hospitals around the area, including the emergency rooms at Waynesboro Community Hospital, and UVA and in student health at Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center. On July 7, 1973 she married Richard Emory Handley. In the 48 years of their marriage, they enjoyed traveling, camping, hiking, and going for drives on the Blue Ridge Parkway. After a breast cancer diagnosis in 1997, Rita proudly served as a member of Bosom Buddies, a local breast cancer support group. She served several terms on the Board of Directors for the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation, which allowed her to travel across the country, meet new people and advocate for women’s health. In addition to her husband, Rita is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Katey and Bent-Lee Carr of Radford, their daughter Violet Grace Carr (aka Sweetness), Her sister, Kaye Lawrence of Greenville; brother, Richard “Rick” Myrtle and wife Pam of Apex, NC; her sister in law Betty Catherine and husband Beverly Bates of Atlanta, GA; nephews Jeremy Lawrence (Amanda) of Cartersville, GA; Greg Myrtle (Samantha) of Virginia Beach, VA; Geoff Myrtle (Kristina) of Raleigh NC; Jeff Handley (Patty) of Topeka, KS and Shawn Leavell (Kiersten) of Vero Beach, FL; nieces Neely Gower of Topeka, KS and Cathy Leavell of Atlanta, GA, many great-nephews and neices, cousins and many many special friends who will greatly miss her. She is also survived by a special friend who was like a son, Shelton Norwood of Blacksburg, and close family friends, Ronnie Pulley and wife Rhonda of Pensacola, FL. She was preceded in death by her parents; in laws, Roy and Lucille Handley; and a special brother in law, Gary Lawrence. The family will receive friends on Saturday, May 15, 2021 at 5-8 at the Stuarts Draft Chapel of Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Homes. A celebration of Rita’s life will be held on Saturday, June 19, 2021 at 1 PM in the Serenity Garden at Ridgeview Park, Waynesboro VA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests all memorial contributions be made to Calvary United Methodist Church Food Bank 2179 Stuarts Draft Hwy, Stuarts Draft, VA, 24477; or to the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation, 2821 Emerywood Pkwy Suite 203, Richmond, VA 23294. Those wishing may share a memory or an online condolence with the Handley Family by visiting www.reynoldshamrickfuneralhomes.com Arrangements entrusted to the Stuarts Draft Chapel of Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Homes.