Danville – Rita E. Workman, 82, passed away on Wednesday July 26, 2017 at Middleton Senior Living in Granville, Ohio surrounded by family.
Rita was the middle daughter born on November 14, 1934 in the Vipes Region of Latvia in the household of the late Paul and Erimine Anna (Spolans) Elksnis. She lived on her parent’s farmstead and started her grade school education there until the summer of 1944. Rita’s parents were forced to leave their home due to encroaching WWII battles. During that summer, all six of the family members including Rita’s grandmother traveled as refugees with a horse and open buggy, living under only the sky above until the beginning of October when they arrived at the shores of the Baltic Sea. There they had to leave behind everything and board a ship that took them to Grone in Germany.
Arriving in Grone the Germans sent all the refugees to camps in Leipzig to live in the barracks. There they witnessed innumerable bombings until a sunny day in May 1945 when WWII ended. With the help of the Americans and a lot of luck the family was transferred to live in the American zone in Esslingen, Germany.
There the three girls restarted school and Rita finished her grade school education. In October of 1949 the family left for America each with suitcases in their hands. They first lived in Dryden, Michigan upon arriving until 1951 when they moved to Danville, Ohio. Rita graduated Danville High School and Mt. Vernon Business School. In June of 1956 Rita married Dean Workman, who preceded her in death on April 15, 2016.
After high school, she worked in a local bank in Mt. Vernon, Ohio and then later joined her husband in the poultry industry at Cuddy Farms where she retired as the head secretary. When Rita wasn’t working or involved in local community events she enjoyed traveling with her husband, quilting, knitting, playing cards, sewing and gardening. She also loved baking and cooking delicious meals for friends and family. She was an avid sports fan for Danville athletics, The Ohio State Buckeyes, Cleveland Indians and the Olympics.
She is survived by her children; Daniel Dean (Gina) Workman of Columbus, Nancy Gina Durbin of North Canton, and Nina Grace (Bill) Helfer of Newark, 5 grandsons; Niclas Paul Workman, Alexander Dean Workman, Aaron Michael Helfer, Rhett Christopher Durbin, and Lee Michael Durbin, a great grandson, Henry Durbin, and sisters; Velta Sulcs and Irma Zakis both of Cleveland, Ohio and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, August 3 at the Fischer Funeral Home in Danville. Pastor Tom Heil will officiate. Interment will follow in Workman Cemetery. Calling hours will be from 5:00-8:00 on Wednesday evening.
Memorial donations can be made to the Danville Athletic Boosters, c/o Lanna Staats, 28388 Jelloway Rd., the Danville Local Schools Band Dept., PO Box 30, or to the Eastern Knox County Joint Fire District (Danville Fire Dept.) PO Box 526, Danville, 43014. fischerfuneralhome.com
