Rita A. Beard, 82 years old of Monroeville, Indiana, passed away at 3:10 a.m. on Tuesday, January 29, 2013 in the Kingston Residence located in Fort Wayne. Rita had been a resident of Monroeville area since 1952. Rita was born on Wednesday, February 5, 1930 in Miami, Florida the daughter of the late Fred Thor and the late Edna (Alfather) Thor. She married the late Robert O. Beard on June 30, 1951 in Middlebury, Ohio and he passed away on July 29, 2011. Rita was a member of the American Legion Ladies Auxillary Unit #420; she was a graduate of Wren High School Class of 1950. Rita was a homemaker. Surviving are her daughter, Linda Sue Scott of New Haven, IN; daughter, Joyce Ann (Dan) Bouman of Clinton Township, MI; daughter, Jeanne Marie (Rich) Tobias of Decatur, IN; daughter, Laurie Ellen Merz (Mark Sharpe) of Monroeville, IN; sister, Anita (Patrick) Moreland of Ft. Myers, FL; 8 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren. Preceding Rita in death was a twin brother, Fred Thor Jr. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 2, 2013 in the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Jacobs Chapel with the Chaplain Karen Kosberg officiating. Interment will follow in the Monroeville Memorial Cemetery. Friends will be received from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Friday, February 1, 2013 in the Zwick and Jahn Funeral Home, Jacobs Chapel, Monroeville, Indiana and from 10:00 a.m. until service time Saturday at the funeral home. Preferred memorials are to Monroeville Fire Dept. or Monroeville EMS.
