Ritha Wilson, of Lynchburg, was born on June 15, 1954, at St. Louis, a daughter of Harry James and Margaret O. (Vann) Fields, and departed this life at 1:00 p.m., December 30, 2016, at her residence. Ritha had attained the age of 62 years, 6 months, and 15 days.

She was preceded in death by her father, Harry in January 2000; her mother, Margaret (Fields) French on September 11, 2015; and three brothers, Sherman Kitchen, Larry Kitchen and Richard Lee French and one niece, Stephanie Fields.

Ritha enjoyed gardening and she loved animals of all kinds especially her chickens, turkeys, dogs and cats. She had been owner/operator and driver of Checker Cab Company and limousines.

Those left to mourn the passing of Ritha include: her son, Steven Ross Powell Jr, Colorado Springs, Colorado; one brother and sister-in-law, Harold James and Faith Fields, House Springs; three sisters and one brother-in-law, Patricia Murphy, Dayton, Ohio; Pamela Stokes, Dixon and Patty and Phil Markus, Collinsville, Illinois; nephews and nieces, Paige, Shauna, Phoebe, Liam, Heidi, Skye, Damien, Jaylynn, Dani, Kayla, Lucretia, Steve, Melissa, Brooke, Nathan, Phylicia, Chelsea, Piper, Krypton; special friend Kari Ann and many other relatives and friends.


A memorial service was held for Ritha at 1:00 p.m., Friday, January 6, 2017, in the Long-Kloeppel Funeral Chapel, Dixon, with Pastor Ann Decker, United Methodist Church, Dixon officiating. Honorary pallbearers for Ritha were Steve Powell, Jim Fields, Scott Fields and Matt Fields.