Rita Clarice Hale Neal

Rita Clarice Hale Neal, 75, of Blacksburg, died Monday, December 4, 2006 at her home. She was born in Comers Rock Community of Grayson County on August 7, 1931 to the late Lucious Alexander and Arlie Evaline Polina Taylor Hale of Blacksburg. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Woodrow James Neal in Carson City, Nevada. Rita took great pride in being a member of the Old Guard at Virginia Tech, having graduated in 1951. She was happy to attend the 2006 celebrations in spite of her illness of the past three years. Professionally Rita was a school teacher in public schools in Biloxi, Miss., Ketchikan, Alaska, Melford, Del., Fredricka, Del., and Blacksburg Elementary School. After a Librarian Degree at Appalachian State University, Rita served as the librarian at Gilbert Linkous Elementary School in Blacksburg, where she was the first librarian. While in Carson City, Nev., she was an active member in the United Methodist Church, as well as a volunteer in the communuty library. She was also a longtime member of the Blacksburg United Methodist Church, where for many years she was responsible for the flowers calendar and a member of the UNMW Circle #4. Rita enjoyed sharing in her daughter's, grandaughter's, and grandson's interest and achievements. Her daughter, Elrita's passion from early childhood has been participating in horse shows as a rider, and later as a professional judge, and photographer. Her granddaughter, Mirina has also enjoyed success in horse shows as well. Her grandson, Jeremy's interests include art and sculpture. She has been a consistent baseball fan for at least four decades and watched baseball through the past season despite her illness. From 2002 through 2004 she attended the Blacksburg Dixie League All-Star games where her grandnephew Isaac Trice was a catcher. Rita is survived by her daughter, Elrita Annett; a granddaughter, Mirina Annett-Hale Brown, both of Greenwood, Del.; a grandson, Michael Jeremy Kemp, Pittsburg, Texas; her stepson, Michael Neal, California; her brother, Raynard T. Hale, and a sister, Wava Teilmann, both of Blacksburg; brother-in-law, Robert B. Neal, Las Vegas, Nev.; nieces include Elisabeth Hale Teilmann Atkins and Evalin Trice, both of Blacksburg, Johanna Perry, Shenandoah, Va.; a nephew, Gunnar Teilmann III, Katy, Texas, stepnephews, Mitchell Neal, Joe Neal, John Linsey Neal, all of Nevada; Mary Hall, nurse-companion has been with Rita for the past years during the time she has been a patient of Carilion Hospice. Survivors in Grayson include paternal cousins, Maretha Harrington, Waneka Lundy, Clara Mae Jones and Nancy Caldwell; maternal cousins, Joye Harrington and Dawn Rhudy; and a paternal cousin in Glenn Rock, Wyo., Jacquelyn Hale Carter. Funeral services will be held Thursday, December 7, 2006 at 2 p.m. in the McCoy Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. James H. Perry and the Rev. Reggie Tuck officiating. Graveside services will be held Friday, December 8, 2006 at 1 p.m. in the Comers Rock Cemetery, Grayson County. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Blacksburg United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 931, Blacksburg, Va. 24063. Friends may call anytime Wednesday after 12 noon and the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday evening at McCoy Funeral Home, 150 Country Club Drive, SW, Blacksburg.