Rita R. Long

Rita was born on March 9, 1940 in Corning, Ohio to the late William K. and Wanda Marshall Ansel. Rita was the eldest of four siblings and graduated from Corning High School, where she was an excellent student and played the flute and piccolo in the Railroader’s band. Soon after Rita’s graduation, the Ansel family moved to Columbus in connection with Bill’s reassignment with his employing railroad company.

Rita promptly began work as a typist and administrative assistant in downtown Columbus and became close friends with a co-worker, Jan. Jan’s husband to be, Kenny Squeo, introduced Rita to his friend, Charles L. Long, who became the love of her life. The Longs were married relatively soon thereafter.

Rita was a loving wife, mother, mother-in-law and grandmother who was happiest spending time with her family. Rita initially became a mother in 1962 and had a second child in 1963. Rita and Chuck prioritized being close to family and bought a house on Woodbury Avenue in Columbus’ Hilltonia neighborhood and raised their children, Kim and Tim, a mile from both the Ansel homestead and Chuck’s mother, Margaret Long, who lived in Franklinton.

In her father Bill’s retirement years, he became one of the early members of the Buckeye State Harmonica Club. Rita joined the Club to spend time with her father, played in the Club’s band, even though she initially knew only parts of a few songs, ultimately grew to love playing the harmonica, performed dozens of times all over Ohio and became the Club’s music librarian and transcriptionist.

Rita loved music her entire life. She was a huge fan of Elvis Presley and the radio played consistently around the Long abode. She attended many rock concerts, well into her retirement years, usually with Kim.

Rita’s husband Chuck worked at The Ohio State University School of Veterinary Medicine the majority of his working life and the couple made Ohio State a big part of their lives. The Longs were OSU football ticket holders for over 40 years and missed only a couple home games during that period. After Chuck died unexpectedly in 2003, Rita never attended another game.

Thereafter, Rita spent countless hours with her granddaughter, Natalie. Attending every piano recital and whatever swim meets she could. Rita left notes regarding her funeral wishes wherein she referred to Natalie as “the light of my life” and was particularly proud of her for graduating from The Ohio State University College of Nursing.

Rita was a voracious reader her entire life. She especially enjoyed historical novels and left many of her favorites containing inserted related articles she had read and clipped from the Dispatch or one of the many periodicals to which she subscribed.

Along with her parents, Rita was predeceased by Chuck in 2003. Rita is survived by her children Kimberly R. Long, Timothy (Marsha) Long, granddaughter, Natalie F. Long, brother, Richard K. (Verna) Ansel and sisters, Cheryl Ansel and Carmen Luce, niece Cindy (Randy) Thompson and her children, Jordan, Jarod and Jayson Galindo, and nephew Kemper (Susan) Ansel, and their children, Abbey and Adam Ansel.

Friends may call at Advantage by Schoedinger - Hilltop Chapel, 3030 West Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43204 on March 7, 2024 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. with a memorial service to follow. Interment thereafter at Greenlawn Cemetery. Refreshments to follow the interment at Advantage by Schoedinger - Hilltop Chapel.