Rita Schnaidt

Rita Schnaidt August 19, 1931 to August 16, 2010 Rita Mae Barnes (Brooks) Schnaidt passed away at home with family present on August 16, 2010. Rita was born to Orley Jennings Barnes and Violeta May Berrey Barnes in Inglewood, CA, on August 19, 1931 along with her triplet sisters. She attended Standard School and Kern County High School. Her many interests over the years included playing summer softball, family camping at Bass Lake, dancing, volunteering in the Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, playing golf, watching her children and grandchildren play sports, rooting for USC, sewing, attending classes at BC, public speaking, cooking, entertaining, playing tour guide of the bay area for her many visitors, doing arts and crafts, and shopping garage sales. Rita married the love of her life, Ernest Schnaidt, on April 6, 1962. He brought much happiness to her life. Rita's greatest joy and interest was in meeting and interacting with people, a gift that served her well both personally and professionally. She enjoyed her career in real estate in Bakersfield for nearly 30 years. Characteristically active, up until one month before her passing she was still hard at work managing a large apartment building in Oakland, CA, where she was loved and appreciated by her tenants. Never timid and always fascinated by human experience, Rita traveled regularly in her later years, exploring New York, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., and Europe. A favorite destination was Cayucos, CA. Always interested in the stories and opinions of others, she was an active member of Toastmasters and the Lions Club for many years. Rita was preceded in death by her mother, May and her sister, Lucille Irene Barnes in 1931; her grandmother who helped raise her, Lucy Adaline Rider Barnes in 1949; her father, O.J., in 1961; and her husband, Ernie, in 1988. Rita is survived by her brother, Samuel Barnes (Esta); her sister, Lois Roark (Bill); and her sister-in-law, Miriam Schnaidt; her nephew and six nieces, Brad Barnes, Brenda Barnes, Kris Talbot Rooney, Nancy Talbot Coy, Lisa Talbot Bohannon, Pamela Schnaidt Davis, Debra Schnaidt Lane, and their respective spouses and families; her three children, Sandy Brooks Ruff (Jerry), Michael Brooks (Barbara), and Marc Schnaidt (Rhonda); her five grandchildren, Jason Ruff (Amy), Seth Ruff (Kathleen), Jennifer Allen-Brooks Martinez (Mike), Traci Schnaidt, and Allyson Schnaidt. Rita also had four great-grandchildren: McCartney Ruff, Madison Ruff, Hudson Ruff, and Truman Ruff. There will be memorial service at Neighborhood Bible Church, 4101 Patton Way, in Bakersfield, on Sept. 18, at 1:30 p.m. Memories and affirmations that could be read at the service are welcome. Please mail to Sandy Ruff, 9530 Hageman Rd., Suite B345, Bakersfield 93312. www.bakersfield.com/obits