Obituary of Rita Tanner

Rita Doppelt Tanner, 91, died February 2. Since her arrival in Morgantown from Chicago at age 19, as the wife of Stephen D. Tanner, she fully embraced the community. She was pre-deceased by her husband and is survived by her five children, Reed, Lynn, Seth, Lori, and Jane; her two daughters-in-law, Cindy and Ran, and her son-in-law, Mario; her seven grandchildren, Adam (Sarah), Danielle, Lesley (Tim), Alexandra (Andy), Bo, Marissa, and Tee; and five great-grandchildren, Tripp, Madeline, Shoshana, Charlie, and Micah; her sister-in-law Annette, nephews Ross, Marc, and Darren and niece Bonnie; and many devoted friends. She enrolled at the University of Illinois and transferred to Northwestern University on track to graduate in three years when she met the love of her life during winter break in Miami Beach. She graduated from WVU while raising five children. Rita served on the Huntington Bank West Virginia board and was a founding board member of Centra Bank. She was appointed by President Richard Nixon to serve on the U.S. Department of Agriculture U.S. Forestry Advisory board. She was active in the League of Women Voters and worked toward the Equal Rights Amendment. She was a board member of Easter Seals, now Stepping Stones, and the Mon County Mental Health Association, and many other community organizations. She and her husband, Stephen, were honored as WVU's Most Loyal West Virginians in 2008. She was actively engaged as a parent in her children's schools and activities. As her family grew, she became an involved and adored grandmother and great-grandmother. She was everything a matriarch should be. She was an avid tennis and badminton player and was an original member of the Morgantown Racquet Club. She was so adept at crosswords that she did the New York Times puzzles in pen. Family will receive friends at the Morgantown Marriott, Sunday, February 4, at 1 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. when a service to honor Rita begins. Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to one of Rita's important charities: The Historic Morgantown Post Office Project, Your Community Foundation of North Central West Virginia, or one of your choice. The family extends its deepest gratitude to the staff at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital, 5E Observation unit for its exceptional care of Rita and our family during what may prove to be the most devastating and tender time in our lives. Hastings Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements and online condolences may be made to the family at www.hastingsfuneralhome.com.