Rita Rue (Pirtle) Wilhelm

Sonora, December17, 1931- September 5, 2017 Rita Rue ( Pirtle ) Wilhelm, 85, was called to the Lord on September 5, 2017 at Scleicher County Nursing Home in Eldorado, Texas. Rita was born on December 17, 1931, the youngest child to James and Ethel Pirtle of Sabinal, Texas where she spent her childhood years. Rita graduated from Knippa High School , and was Salutatorian of her class. She went on to attend Southwest Texas Junior College in Uvalde, and North Texas University in Denton. In 1951 she married Earnest Wilhelm (the love of her life) in Lovington, New Mexico and the had five children. Rita and Earnest spent most of their married years in Wink, Texas and later retired in Greenwood, Texas. Rita and her husband also lived in Bolivia, Ecuador, and Singapore while her husband worked the international oil fields. In 2004 they moved to San Angelo and lived at Rio Concho Manor Retirement Community. Rita is survived by two daughters: Rebecca Covington and husband Jim of Sonora, Texas, Susan Bland and husband Benny of Greenwood, Texas, and two sons: Earnest Wilhelm, Jr. and wife Charla of Thibodaux, Louisiana, and Terry Wilhelm and wife Glenda of Joshua, Texas. She is also survived by seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Loved ones that preceded her in death are her husband Earnest Wilhelm, son Stephen Wilhelm, great granddaughter Kylie Donaldson, father and mother James and Ethel Pirtle, brother Jimmy Pirtle, brother Donald Pirtle, sister Vera Carpenter, and sister Opal Storms. Rita's grandchildren were her heart and joy and she took great pride in being called "Nana". Time spent at Nana's house was very special for them. She was a very kind and gentle soul: she had a loving and generous heart, and was always giving to others. A woman of faith and the heart of the Wilhelm family, she shaped the family spirituality by her tireless Christian example. Rita was an avid reader, a whiz at working crossword puzzles, and loved playing cards or any other board games with her friends and family. She was highly intelligent, competitive, and delighted in winning. While she lived in San Angelo she volunteered at the San Angelo Fine Arts Museum and loved being involved in the arts. The family would like to extend their gratitude to the Schleicher County Nursing Home and Hospice of San Angelo staff, where they took excellent care of her. A family memorial service will be held at a later date at Winkler County Memorial Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at lovefuneralhome.net. ? ? ? ?