Rita Joyce Clark

Rita Joyce Childs Clark August 24, 1954 ~ December 27, 2022 Through God's Grace and Mercy, Rita Joyce Childs Clark gained eternal peace and freedom in the hands of Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior, surrounded by family and friends. Rita was born in Angleton Clinic to parents Alfred Wayne Childs and Bonita Richards Childs. Early education was in West Columbia where Rita rode her bike to enjoy film features at the old Capitol movie theater. When her father gained employment at Dow Chemical, the family moved to Angleton making life-long friendships, including the family of Harold and Lula Clark and their children, Patsy Clark Kelly, Janet Clark DeMeyer, Donald Clark, and James R (Jim) Clark. Rita enjoyed meeting new people, became a twirler and played flute in the famous Purple Pride Band graduating from AHS in 1972. Shortly after graduation she became a certified underwater diver and later spent several years working in Hermosa Beach, California. Upon moving back to Texas Rita reconnected with friends old and new which led her to South Houston gaining life-long friendship with Lisa Vickers and bonus grandchild Peyton Otwell. As a bookkeeper, Rita was employed at a recovery center which led to her becoming an LCDCI. Being a truck driver's daughter, Rita would take her retired father on driving field trips, as both enjoyed being "on the road". On a fateful day, July25, 2009 , a chance meeting brought Rita and her dad to a country store in Fulshear, Tx. where standing outside, Jim saw a familiar face and asked, "Are you Rita?" That morning, Rita had left Angleton headed to Jellystone Park, while Jim had left Angleton for College Station to visit his children. After a near 30 year hiatus, Jim and Rita rekindled a friendship and were married in Las Vegas 1-1-2011. Rita's list of favorite things was wide-ranged; fireworks displays especially at Sylvan Beach overlooking Galveston Bay, sitting on the sand at Hermosa Beach on the California coast watching the orange and yellow sun setting into the Pacific Ocean, SCUBA diving in the Gulf of Mexico at the Flower Garden Banks Marine Sanctuary, music by The Beatles, The "Boss", and Bonamassa. Being a Daughter of the American Revolution she enjoyed learning true American History as taught by Gene "Jeep" Mitchell in high school Civics class. Rita and her father Wayne were avid and knowledgeable U.S. Military enthusiasts, and she loved attending all her family parties and reunions where she was usually the eldest and therefore knew all the family stories and what "really" happened. We express heartfelt thanks to Rita's Angleton Church family, Greater Heights Baptist Church, Pastor Jeff and Brenda Lege, Clifford and Doris Adkins, Steve and Lisa Vickers for their dedication, strength, and help during Rita's peaceful journey into Eternal life. She is preceded in death by her parents, Wayne and Bonita Childs. Rita is survived by sister, Paula Childs Stephens; husband, James R. (Jim) Clark and bonus family, son, Todd Clark; daughter, Jennifer Clark Martinez; grandchildren, Moses Barnes, Isaac Barnes, Arianna Martinez; great-grandchild, Braeson Barnes; cousins, Cheryl Trafton (Ed), Carl Giesie (Dominique), Frank Giesie (Stacey), Judi Downing (Danny), and Terri Davis (Faron), nieces, nephews, and friends. Memorial Services for Rita will take place at 11:00 a.m. on January 21, 2023 with lunch to follow at 12:00 p.m. at Second Baptist Church in Highlands, Texas located at 400 E. Wallisville Road, Highlands, Texas 77542 with Pastor Beau Rosser officiating. Graveside Services for Rita will take place at 2:30 p.m. at Brazoria Cemetery in Brazoria, Texas also on January 21, 2023 with Pastor Jeff Lege officiating. Condolences and memories may be offered at www.palmsfuneralhome.com Service Details. Service When Saturday, January 21st, 2023 11:00am Location Second Baptist Church Address 400 E. Wallisville Road HIGHLANDS, TX 77542 Interment Location Brazoria Cemetery Address Proebstle St. BRAZORIA, TX 77422 Family and friends are coming together online to create a special keepsake. Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in this book. View Tribute Book