Source: The Daily Progress, April 3, 2003
Elza Duncan Rittenhouse, 92, of 193 Tanbark Drive, Afton, (Nelson County), passed away Monday, March 31, 2003, at Avante of Waynesboro.
Mrs. Rittenhouse was born September 3, 1910, in Nelson County, a daughter of the late Robert Leslie and Rosa Hughes Duncan.
Elza was a devoted member of Hebron Baptist Church, having taught a Sunday School class for a number of years. She had served as the Woman's Missionary Union Leader and was also a member of the "55 Alive" group at church. Mrs. Rittenhouse was an avid gardener and enjoyed cooking. She also enjoyed singing at Avante each week. Elza retired from Morton Frozen Foods with 18 years of service.
Survivors include two sons, William "Mac" Rittenhouse and his wife, Gloria, of Grottoes, and Robert "Bobby" Rittenhouse and his wife, Bessie of Afton; one daughter, Frances Whitmire and her husband, Allen of Salem, Va.; three sisters, Iola Duncan of Afton, Lillian Duncan of Afton and Thena Bean of Afton; two special sisters-in-law, Mae Duncan of Afton and Thelma Duncan of Afton. Elza was a loving grandmother to seven grandchildren, Coley Rittenhouse, Dallas Rittenhouse, and Tracey Moyer all of Grottoes, Karen Michael and Tammy Shearer of Harrisonburg, and Bonnie Campbell of Amherst and Bryan Rittenhouse of Faber.; 15 great-grandchildren, and a number of nieces, nephews, and friends.
Mrs. Rittenhouse was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, William Everette Rittenhouse, December 1, 1975; three brothers, James Henry Duncan, Burgess Duncan, and Virgil Duncan; five sisters, Iva Duncan, Helen Duncan, Stella Rodes, Blanche Coffey, and Ada Rittenhouse.
A service will be held 11 a.m. today at Hebron Baptist Church by the Rev. John Sullivan and assisted by the Rev. John Chafee and the Rev. Jim Ailor. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be, Pepper Ailor, Melvin Faris, Bobby Mawyer, Lucian Hughes, Michael Rodes, James Sheffield, John Anderson, and Don Gray. Honorary pallbearers will be, Coley Rittenhouse, Dallas Rittenhouse, Bryan Rittenhouse, Kenneth Coffey, Alden Rodes, Richard Roberts, Devereaux Davis, Dave Marshall, Pete Bishop, John Pugh, and Bill Sommerville.
The family received friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 2, 2003, at Reynolds Funeral Service of Waynesboro.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Rockfish Valley First Aid Crew, 11000 Rockfish Valley Highway, Afton, Va. 22920.