Rita was born in Oak Ridge, Tennessee on February 16th, 1958. She was the daughter of Freddie C. Bratcher and Ella Ray Bratcher (Lanham) and lived in the Dayton area until the time of her passing. She graduated from Walter E. Stebbins High School in 1976 and was employed as an Air Force DOD civilian for 36 years at Wright-Patterson AFB. Rita earned several Sustained Superior Performance ratings throughout her career with the Air Force.
Rita was a special person that enjoyed spectator sports of all kinds. She was a loyal and true Bengals fan through the good years and the not-so-good years. She also was a fan of the University of Kentucky basketball team and the Ohio State football team. Rita was a major fan of Elvis Presley and anyone who visited her home would be amazed at the Elvis memorabilia collection she had amassed over the years. She and her friends would frequently travel to Las Vegas to attend Elvis impersonator stage shows. Rita was also a member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, New Carlisle Aerie #376. Rita attended and was baptized at the Airway Baptist Church during her teen years. Anyone who met Rita knew she was a very special person and was little in stature but huge in heart and personality. She will be passionately missed and remembered in our hearts forever.
Rita is survived by her father, Freddie C. Bratcher of Apollo Beach, Florida and her brother Mike Bratcher of Warner Robins, Georgia. She was predeceased in death by her mother Ella Ray, her sister Karen Elaine Jeans (Bratcher), and her brother David Lee Bratcher.
No local services will be held; however, a graveside (Berea, KY) memorial service will be held in the future.
Rita’s family kindly requests that memorial donations in lieu of flowers be made to:
Little People of America
617 Broadway #518
Sonoma, CA 95476
PH: (888) LPA-2001
WEB: lpaonline.org
E-Mail: [email protected]
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18