Rita Alberta Knapp Bauman Smith

Rita Alberta Knapp Bauman Smith died on Sunday, October 23, 2016 at The Inn at Freedom Square, following an illness. She was 98 years old. She was predeceased by her parents, Harriet and Harry Knapp and five siblings, Robert Knapp, Edna Knapp Montana, Walter Knapp, Howard Knapp, and Richard Knapp and her son-in-law John W. Larkin. Her first husband, Edward Walter Bauman, died in 1987. Her second husband, David Smith, died in 2006. She is survived by her daughters Barbara Bauman Larkin and Patricia Bauman Sparks and her son-in-law John Wesley Sparks, five grandchildren: Rebecca Sparks-Thissen and her husband Michael Thissen, Timothy Dwight Abrahamson-Larkin and his wife Adelpha Abrahamson-Larkin, Daniel Edward John Larkin and his wife, Molly Larkin, Michael Edward Sparks and his wife Diane Sparks, Sarah Jane Priebe; 10 great grandchildren: Chloe Priebe, Connor, Emily, and Leah Sparks, Lynne Thissen, Noah, Eli, and Owen Abrahamson-Larkin, and Graham and Annabel Larkin; her nephew Thomas Knapp and his wife Ellen Knapp, and great nephew Evan Knapp. Rita was born on November 19, 1917 in New York City, and moved to Jersey City, NJ and then Rahway, NJ. She graduated from Rahway High school in 1935, attended secretarial school, and entered into a career as secretary to the president of an insurance company in Newark, NJ. She met her husband-to-be, Edward Bauman at a dance in 1937. They fell in love, became engaged, and were married on November 9, 1940, and moved to an apartment in Elizabeth. They had two children, Barbara and Patricia. In 1953 Rita and Eddie purchased a house in Westfield, NJ. As the parent of young children, Rita was active in the PTA, where she served as recording secretary. She was also a Girl Scout leader. She was an excellent seamstress and made many of her daughters' dancing school and party dresses. Rita had stayed home while her children were growing up, but returned to work as a secretary in retail establishments, and culminated her career as executive secretary at Union College, Cranford, NJ. She and her husband were transferred to Puerto Rico. In the next 10 years, Rita and her husband lived in Puerto Rico, Iowa City, IA, and Broken Arrow, OK. Everywhere she went, she made lasting friendships, was active in church life, loved to entertain, was an avid bridge player, and liked to travel. She was a wonderful quilter and made quilts that her daughters will cherish. In 1982 Rita's husband retired and they fulfilled their dream to retire to Florida. They travelled through most of the United States, visited their children, and enjoyed several cruises to the Caribbean and South America. She was very proud of her work with the Deborah Foundation where she served as secretary and helped to raise thousands of dollars for people with heart disease. Rita's husband, Eddie died in 1987. Rita moved from Largo to Tamarac by the Gulf, filling her life with service at the Lake Seminole Presbyterian Church where she served on the nurturing committee, visited parish members, taught vacation Bible school, and worked on many projects and activities. She enjoyed the Tamarac Association, where she sang in the choral group and went on many group excursions. Through a mutual friend, she met David Allen Smith. They fell in love and were married in 2001 in a ceremony that included their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. They went on a cruise for their honeymoon and another cruise a year later. They moved to Freedom Square, where they made new friends. David died in 2008. Rita continued to live at Freedom Square, enjoying her friends and family. Although she lived in many places in the United States, she loved Florida, considered it the greatest vacationland ever, and considered it to be her home. She was loved very much by her daughters and sons-in-laws, her grandchildren and their spouses, and great grandchildren and her nephew and his family. She will be greatly missed. A Memorial service will be held at 1:00PM Sunday Oct 30, 2016 at Lake Seminole Presbyterian Church - Seminole, FL.