Rita Louise (Robbins) Warfel-Wire, age 88 of Elwood, passed away Monday, December 18, 2017 at St. Vincent Mercy Hospital in Elwood.  She was born December 15, 1929 in Genoa, Illinois to Clifford Milton and Rita Josephine (Messina) Robbins.  Her early life was an idyllic childhood on Indiana's Lake Webster with her brothers.  The family moved to Elwood where she and her siblings attended school and loved to wander in the woods southwest of town.  Rita was a 1947 graduate of Wendell L. Willkie High School.  She was employed by Bohlander's Dairy, and was an operator for Indiana Bell Telephone.  Rita married Ronnie Warfel, who passed away in 1952.  She later married Don Wire.  After some years as a stay-at-home-mom, Rita was employed by the J.C. Penny Company.  She then worked as a Nurse's Aide at Mercy Hospital for 19 years, and became a certified CPR Instructor.

Volunteering was an important part of Rita's life.  She served as a Girl Scout Leader and Neighborhood Leader for the Girl Scout Council, and a Cub Scout Den Mother. She was a Sunday school teacher at First United Methodist Church in Elwood, where she was a member.  She volunteered for the local Migrant Ministry, organizing meals for the pre-school and worked with new migrants.  Rita was an accomplished seamstress and quilter.  She loved to garden, canning fruits and vegetables for her family. She was an avid reader, and enjoyed listening to NPR.  She shared her love of the woods with her children by taking them on hikes and many camping trips.

Rita's family includes 5 children, Theresa (Dave) Berghoff, Emma (Steve) Manship, Julie (Phil) Arnold, Mary (Daniel) Dehoff, and Martin Wire. Also 11 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, 3 cousins, and 11 nieces and nephews.  Rita was preceded in death by her parents, first husband Ronnie Warfel, former husband Don Wire, brothers Mickey Robbins and wife Judy, Dick Robbins and wife Peg, and Tom Robbins and wife Kathy.

The family would like to thank Dr. Ronald Duncan and his staff, also Judy Watts, Lisa Kaiser, Jennie Doan, Joyce Hughes, the Elwood Fire Department, and many friends at St. Vincent Mercy Hospital for the care they provided for Rita.

Following cremation, a Memorial Service celebrating Rita's life will be conducted at 3:00 PM on Saturday, December 23, 2017 at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home in Elwood with Rev. Doug Bohall of the First United Methodist Church officiating.  Visitation for family and friends will be held from 1 to 3 PM prior to the Memorial service at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Elwood Fire Department through the funeral home.  Online expressions of condolence may be made at copherfeslermay.com.