Rita Welsh Nikirk

1931 - 2021

Rita Welsh Nikirk, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and aunt, age 90, of Mount Airy, Maryland passed away peacefully on November 13, 2021, at Lorien Health Care. She was the wife of the late Harry (Huck) Smith Nikirk for 67 years.

Born on October 30, 1931, at Frederick Memorial Hospital, Rita was the daughter of the late Oliver Owings Welsh and Bernice Buckingham Welsh and sister of the late Jackson Oliver Welsh. She grew up in Mt. Olive, a small community outside of Mount Airy. Rita was a 1948 graduate of Mount Airy High School and worked at Potomac Edison where she met her future husband. She later worked at Suburban Trust Bank and then became a devoted, full-time mother. Rita was a life-long member of Calvary United Methodist Church and a member and twice president of the Mount Airy Garden Club. She was a life member of the Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland and National Garden Clubs; Inc. Rita had a passion for local history and served on the board of the Historical Society of Carroll County. She was also a member of the Red Hat Society. Rita and Huck traveled extensively throughout the US and internationally. She will be remembered for her devotion to family, church, community, and garden club. Rita had an enduring love, spirit, and optimism that she carried throughout her life.

Surviving are her three children: H. Gregory Nikirk and wife Debbie of Mount Airy, Anita Givens and husband Steve of Lexington, VA and John Nikirk and wife Allison of White Hall, MD; eight grandchildren: Erik Nikirk and wife Lauren of Gillette, NJ, Bryan Nikirk of Stuart, FL, Kaitlyn Jessell and husband Harry of Mount Airy, Christopher Givens and wife Sandy of Chapel Hill, NC, Matthew Givens and wife Camila of Falls Church, VA, Allison Givens of Arlington, VA, Austin Nikirk of Amiens, France and Ellen Nikirk of White Hall, MD; three greatgrandchildren: Emily and Audrey Nikirk of Gillette, NJ and Cameron Nikirk of Stuart, FL. The family wishes to thank the following caregivers while Rita was at home - Ellen, Linda, Susan, and Sha; also, Lorien Health Care and Gilchrist Hospice.

The family will receive friends from 9am-11am on Saturday, December 4th at Calvary United Church, 403 S. Main Street, Mount Airy. A celebration of her life will begin at 11am at the church. Interment will follow at Pine Grove Cemetery, Mount Airy.

To celebrate our mother's love of flowers, send flowers to someone special or consider a donation to the Mount Airy Garden Club, 1308 Longbow Rd, Mt. Airy, MD 21771, Historical Society of Carroll County, 210 E Main Street, Westminster MD 21157, or the Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Company, 702 N. Main Street, Mt. Airy MD 21771.

Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.staufferfuneralhome.com