Rita M. Hartzell

     Rita M. Hartzell, 78, of Crofton, MD, passed away on Thursday, February 4, 2016 at Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis, MD. Rita was born in DeKalb, Illinois on August 17, 1937. In 1955, after graduation from Pontiac High School in Pontiac, Illinois, Rita joined the Navy and served as a Dental Technician until her honorable discharge in 1957.     During her time in the Navy she met and married her husband, Dr. Richard E. Hartzell. They were married for 46 years until his passing in 2004.     Rita worked as a teacher at Germantown Elementary School in the 1960’s, as an office manager for Long & Foster Realtors in Crofton, MD and also at the Anne Arundel Board of Realtors from the late 1970’s to the early 1990’s. She finished her work career as a legislative aide to State Senator Clarence Blount. Rita was an active member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Crofton.     Rita was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Richard E. Hartzell. She is survived by her sons, Jack and his wife, Kathy; Mark and his wife, Nancy; and Jeff. Rita was “Oma” to seven (7) grandchildren: Katelyn, Gretchen, Matthew, Madison, Mark, Marina, and Ingrid and one great grandchild, Seth. Rita is also survived by her sister Ann Keyes of Winchester, VA and her brother David Mitchell of Aurora, CO.     A “Celebration of Life” will be held for Rita on Saturday, February, 20th at 11am at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Crofton located at 1370 Defense Highway in Gambrills, MD. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Crofton.