"It is more blessed to give than to receive." - Acts 20:35

It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that we announce the passing of Rita L. Walters (Josefczyk) on November 22, 2024, at the age of 76. Rita passed away peacefully at her home with her beloved pets and husband in Maynard, Ohio. Rita was born on June 11th, 1948, in Wheeling, WV to Stanley and Florence (Shrieve) Josefczyk. She met the love of her life, her best friend, and husband of 55 years, Lanny "Waldo" Walters.

Rita truly knew that it was more blessed to give than receive. Her generosity knew no bounds. Whether she was helping raise her nieces, teaching bible school at her church, donating items to the women's shelter, organizing golf scrambles, softball tournaments, decorating the Veterans Honor Roll for the town of Maynard, or handing out the best Halloween treats in town for the children, Rita went above and beyond for everyone and everything. A beautiful soul who would and did help everyone. Rita's radiant smile lit up any room she walked into and a laugh that was contagious. She had a personality brighter than the sun. She lived and loved life to the fullest. She especially loved spending time with her amazing husband, family, friends, her fur babies, and her great great niece, J'lyse. She was a creative and exceptional artist, whether she was cutting and styling hair in her self owned and operated beauty shop, "Rita's Head Hunters", designing and creating stained glass with her beloved best friend Marlene Haught, or teaching the greatest joys of her life great niece, Kimberlee Kafana, and great great niece and godchild, J'lyse Kafana, and godchild Mandi Haught-Theobald (and her sisters Missy, Kim, and Samantha) to tackle any and all life's challenges in "Leelee" or "Dee Dee" style.

Rita is survived by her husband Lanny Walters, niece Leigh (Kull) Alexander, great niece Kimberlee Kafana (Jay), great great niece & godchild J'lyse Kafana and her fiancé (Josh Crawford), godchild Amanda (Haught) Theobald and family, and many more loved ones and loyal friends.

In addition to her parents, Rita was preceded in death by her sister Doris Kull, Brother Richard and sister-in-law Louise Josefczyk, niece Trudy Kowalcyk, and nephew Eric Kull.

In honoring Rita's final wishes, no service or memorial will be held at this time. She wanted only to return back home to be with her husband, fur babies, Gracie, JLo, Janis, Lily, and Ozzy, and family, until they meet again in heaven. A celebration of life will be held at a future date in the field across from her home sometime in the summer of 2025, friends and family will be notified on Rita's Facebook page.

Memorial donations and dedications can be made to those organizations that Rita supported; BSCR (www.backstreetcatrescue.com) in care of Ashley Vicker Blinco and The American Heart Association (@heart.org). Rita wanted everyone to remember to "Live, laugh, love, and have fun everyday like it's your last".