Rita Marie Chambers

Rita Marie Chambers was born on November 19, 1952, in Welch, West Virginia. She was the first-born child of Ramona Ford and Charles Robert Thompson. On October 28, 2025, she answered “yes” when her name was called.

Rita was baptized at an early age at the Shiloh Baptist Church in Premier, West Virginia under the leadership of her late grandfather Rev. Chester Reed. At the age of 12, Rita relocated to Fort Wayne, Indiana. At the age of 13 Rita joined Progressive Baptist Church on her own accord under Bishop Jesse White, her love for God was unyielding. She later joined True Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Bishop Jesse White where she served as a founding and faithful member. She later joined Union Baptist Church before moving to Muncie, Indiana under the leadership of her husband Rev. Aston R Chambers, Jr. She was united in holy matrimony with Rev. Aston R Chambers Jr. on March 19, 1994. She served faithfully beside her husband as the First Lady of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Muncie, Indiana.

She worked all her life, over 30 plus years at North American Van Lines, and another 10 years at SHIP (State Health Indiana Program) until retiring in 2022.

Rita was the epitome of a virtuous woman full of integrity and grace. Her character spoke volumes—that displayed honesty, meekness, kindness, and an unwavering devotion to those around her. Rita was a generous and loving woman of God. She lived with a heart full of unconditional love, leaving behind a legacy that touched every role she embraced: a devoted wife, nurturing mother, loving grandmother, cherished sibling, adoring mother-in-law, beloved aunt, loyal cousin, treasured friend, and respected coworker. Her love was the thread that bound them all, quietly, powerful and deeply enduring.

She was preceded in death by both of her parents, Ramona Ford and Charles Robert Thompson.

She is survived by her husband, Rev. Aston R Chambers of Muncie, Indiana, and her three children, two daughters, Rolanda (Johney) Presswood of Tampa, Florida, and Rotaynda (Ronald) King of Avon, Indiana; one son, Charles Phillips of Fort Wayne, Indiana; two grandchildren, Cade Rajon and Brielle Rajah both of Fort Wayne, Indiana; a goddaughter, Devin Chambers of Fort Wayne, Indiana; seven siblings, Amalva (Percy) Key of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Curtiss (Zena) Thompson of Salisbury, North Carolina, Regina (Gene) Myatt of Tampa, Florida, Dennis Tate of Lancaster, California, Rodney (Michelle) Tate of Riverside, California, Felita Tate of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Robert (Heather) Ford Jr. of Indianapolis, Indiana; two daughters of love, Ebony (Landon) Mudd of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Nicole Robinson of Indianapolis, Indiana, along with a host of loving nephews, nieces, other family members and friends.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. - Psalm 23:1