Rita Marie (Eickholtz) Hamerla

Rita Marie (Eickholtz) Hamerla passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 13, 2022, at ProMedica Skilled Nursing in King of Prussia, PA. She was 93. Mrs. Hamerla was a resident of King of Prussia. She earned a Bachelor Degree in Home Economics from Purdue University in 1952. Rita was a member of the International 4H Youth Exchange Program in Austria in 1952 and won an award for it. She was selected as the Mother of The Year by the King of Prussia Courier. Rita loved to travel and went on three overseas trips to Alaska, Kenya and Antarctica. She was Judge of Elections at Belmont I District, serving from 1977 to 1993. She was also a member of the Valley Forge branch of American Association of University Women, where for many years she helped with or ran the used book sale at the King of Prussia Mall near Gimbles Department store, which she was awarded a certificate for in recognition of her efforts. Her work with the AAUW also involved helping to transport blood for The American Red Cross. In 1969 she taught Catholic Doctrine at St. Augustine's Church. Born in Charlestown, Indiana on October 9, 1929, she was a daughter of the late John and Anna Mae (Schafer) Eickholtz. She was postdeceased 17 days later by husband of 69 years, Donald Ray Hamerla. Surviving is her loving family including their five sons: Darrell S. (Andrea), Ronald M., Timothy W. (June), Lyle E. (Terriann), and Perry A. (Sara); five daughters: Lucy D. (Paul) Hanson, Janice I. (Rich) Wright, Alicia M. (Bruce) Blair, Sharon K. (Robert) Harner, and Diane A. (Isaac) Burk; 17 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren and another on the way; three brothers: Richard, Dennis and Raymond; 2 sisters: Mary (Thom) Shields, and Dorothy Dunn; and many other loving family members. She was preceded in death by brothers: Henry, Leonard and Frank; and sisters, Agnes Withers, and Clara Ann. Relatives and friends are invited to a memorial service for Rita and her husband Don at Saint Michael's church at 10:15pm on Nov. 12, 2022 in her hometown of Charlestown, Indiana. Followed by internment at Saint Michael's Cemetery. Condolences to the family at info@bacchifh.com