Rita Strock Anderson

Rita Strock Anderson entered peacefully into eternal rest on May 17, 2025, in her home, surrounded by family. Rita was born to Edward “Vladimire” and Mary Strock in Hazleton Pennsylvania on December 17, 1933. She is preceded in death by James T. “Andy” Anderson, her loving husband of 38 years as well as her parents and siblings, Eleanor, Anna, Paul, Edward, Rosella, James, Pricilla, Mary, Alex, Ted, Emily, Joseph, Thomas, Catherine and Robert. She is survived by her loving children, Douglas Anderson (Christine Anderson), Beverly Whittington and Rebecca Landrum (John Landrum); her grandchildren, Stacie Landrum, James Landrum, Alex Whittington, Rita Whittington, Kimberly Anderson Dolan, Sarah Anderson Lang, Stephen Anderson and Elise Anderson; Great GrandChildren, James Grubaugh, Jodi Grubhaugh, Noah Dolan and Luke Dolan and more on the way as well as nieces, nephews and many more who loved her.

Rita lived a very full life surrounded by family and people who loved her. She graduated high school from Hazleton High School and then went to nurse’s training and then to the Air Force where she met the love of her life, Andy. Together they had three children and lived in Japan, New York, Alaska, Pennsylvania, Texas, Germany, Alabama and then finally settled down in Georgia where she welcomed many grandchildren and great grandchildren. She saw things that most people could only dream about and lived life to the fullest. After settling in Burke County, she was the director of nurses at Burke Medical Center for many years until her retirement. At the hospital she met so many friends and guided many nurses into promising medical careers. In her retirement she enjoyed her hobbies making beautiful quilts and more from her own personal haven that was her sewing room. She could spend hours there, completely happy and at peace creating beautiful things.

Rita was a loving and giving soul. There are few people in this world as generous as she was. She adored her dogs and spoiled them rotten as she always had a soft spot for animals great and small. There were many, many excited, four legged friends to meet her on the rainbow bridge. She loved flowers and watching her bird feeders but she especially loved hummingbirds and cardinals. They say when a cardinal is here, angels are near and she will absolutely be checking in, every time a cardinal lands on the bird feeder. This world was not ready for the loss of such a great woman and she will be missed by everyone whose lives she touched. She will always be remembered for the loving and generous person that she was and will continue to be such a large part of her family even in her absence. A presence like hers can never be forgotten. She will live on in the spirit of the lives she touched and the family and friends she leaves behind.

The family will receive friends from 5:00pm to 7:00pm Friday, May 23 at the funeral home. Funeral Mass will be held 3:00pm Saturday, May 24 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church and will be presided over by Father John Wright. Internment will follow at Burke Memorial Gardens Cemetery where she will be laid to rest next to the man she loved.

DeLoach-McKerley-Prescott Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 220 East 6th Street, Waynesboro, GA 30830 (706-554-3531)

You may sign the guest book at www.deloachfuneralhomes.com.