Rita H. (Kinney) Creed

Rita H. Creed, 96, a native resident of Girard, Ohio, died Monday, October 2, 2017, with her family by her side.

Born March 18, 1921, in Youngstown, Ohio, to the late Luke V. and Gertrude Wilthew Kinney, she led an extremely active life.

Before graduating from Girard High School in 1939, Rita started a life- long love of entertainment. While still in school, she played Hawaiian and Spanish guitars, and sang in an all girls orchestra. She continued singing in shows, clubs and with many local bands throughout mid-life.

She was a self-taught licensed real estate agent and a self-taught licensed insurance agent, retiring in 1980 from the Griffith Insurance Agency in Girard. After retirement, she pursued her interest in oil painting, and creating many true works of art. Since 1991, she resided in St. Petersburg, Florida.

She was very proud to be Irish, and was a devout Catholic, attending St. Rose Roman Catholic Church in Girard many years of her life. She was a published poet and an avid golfer belonging to many local leagues and clubs. She also enjoyed dancing and card playing with her family, she was a world traveler, and admitted, "I've had a fun life, I really have. I've done everything I've wanted to do."

She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter, her husband of 50 years, a brother Robert V. Kinney, Sr. and niece Maureen Kefauver.

Survivors include her daughters Judy Creed of Asheville, N.C.,  and Janet (John) Larocca of Girard; her grandchildren, Jeff (Cathie) Larocca, and Maureen (John) Goetz; 2 great-grandchildren, Brendan and Evie Goetz; her nieces Trudy Dixon, Janice Evans, Colleen Coogan, a nephew, Bob Kinney; and Peter Klimkowsky, her devoted , loving companion of over 20 years, of Crofton, MD.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 9 a.m. until the time of service at the church. A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 7th, at St. Rose Church in Girard, with Monsignor John Zuraw officiating. Private burial with family will be at a later date at Green Haven Memorial Gardens, Canfield, Ohio.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Lori Hemrock and Dr. Eugene Tareshawty, the superb staff at The Hope Cancer Center in Warren, Ohio, Omni Healthcare Center, Omni West Assisted Living, and MVI Hospice for the kind and compassionate care that was given to Rita.  The family suggests memorial contributions be made to: MVI Hospice, 4891 Belmont Avenue, Youngstown, Ohio, 44505. Visit www.blackstonefuneralhome.com to view this obituary and to send any condolences to the family.