ROSITA ANTOINETTE WAMBAUGH

WAMBAUGH ROSITA ANTOINETTE (nee MAY) Age 94, a retired supervisor with the Department of Public Welfare, died in her Philadelphia home on Thursday, April 10, 2025. She is survived by her only son, retired Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor, Byron Leslie Wambaugh. Rosita was born in Philadelphia in 1930. She was the youngest of three children of the late Victor Bell May, Sr. and Marian Colbert May. Her sister was the Honorable Doris May Harris and her brother was Victor, Junior. Rosita's early education began at the George L. Brooks Elementary School. She then attended West Philadelphia High School from 1945 to 1948. Her father encouraged her to pursue a college education, and Rosita attended Howard University from 1948 to 1952. She studied sociology and psychology, receiving her Bachelor Of Arts degree. She fondly remembered living with her uncle, Dr. Victor Julius Tulane, a professor who taught chemistry at Howard during her freshman year. Moreover, while at Howard, she met her life long friend, Attorney John McDaniel. From 1955 to 1957, Rosita then attended the University Of Pennsylvania's school of social work earning her Masters Of Social Work degree. On February 11, 1956, Rosita was united in marriage by the Reverend Jesse F. Anderson at the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas to Gordon Irving Wambaugh. Their marital union resulted in them becoming the proud parents of their only son, Byron Leslie Wambaugh. As a loving mother, she remained on maternity leave for three years. During Rosita's professional career she worked at the following agencies: Women's Christian Alliance (1952 to 1956); Philadelphia Society to Protect Children (1956 to 1959); Women's Christian Alliance (1959 to 1963); from 1963 to 1965 Rosita was on maternity leave; from 1965 to her retirement as a supervisor in 1990, Rosita worked for the City of Philadelphia, Department of Public Welfare. In 1990, the City of Philadelphia awarded Rosita a Citation for her twenty-five years' of service to the city. Rosita was loved and respected by her co-workers, and retained life long friendships with many of them, especially with Doris Fowler and her family. Rosita lived a full life, attending family vacations at Sag Harbor, New York with her life long friend, Josephine H. Jefferson and her husband, Joseph. She was also active in the civil rights movement, participating in the Poor People's Campaign in 1968. After her husband's death in 1973, she rekindled her friendship with John McDaniel. They attended many dinners, conventions and family reunions with John's son, Oliver, his wife, Janice, and their children. Rosita also enjoyed photography, reading books and attending a book signing by her cousin, Professor Derrick A. Bell. In her latter years, she especially enjoyed reading, Fox And Geese: A Drug Court Story, written by her son. She leaves to mourn, her son Byron, nieces, nephews and a host of family and friends who loved her dearly. A private service will be held for Rosita. May you forever rest in peace, Rosita Antoinette May Wambaugh. www.laurelhillphl.com