RITA SOWERBY BEELER

1921-2017

Rita S. Beeler, 97, of Houston, Texas passed away peacefully on December 30, 2017. Rita was born in Houston on April 17, 1921 to the late Charles and Lulu Alice Sowerby and, on April 12, 1941, married to Greig B. Beeler of Houston.

Rita graduated from Sam Houston High School in 1938 and in 1958 she took photography courses at the University of Houston. During her career, Rita worked for Western Auto, B.F. Goodrich, Brides by Shirley, University of Texas Dental Branch, Boeing Aircraft at NASA, and Bowen tools. Also, she and her husband were selfemployed photographers for weddings, dance recitals, and portraits as “Rita’s Photography”.

In the 1960’s, Rita was an on-site photographer for NASA and developed the first film taken on the moon in 1969. She was an accomplished seamstress and costume designer, bromeliad judge, world traveler, and received the “PIPS Outstanding Service Award”. Rita won many awards with her beautiful bromeliad plants at both National and International Conferences.

Rita is preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Greig B. Beeler. She is survived by her sister, Joyce Hogan, her daughters Rita J. Robinson and Bonnie B. Nielsen and husband Gary, loving grandchildren Joel Battle IV and wife Amy, John C. Fitch, Brian Battle, Ginger Stagg and her husband Clay, Tracy Pinto and her husband Patrice, Carlie Blackburn and her husband Anthony, and great-grandchildren, Joel V, Amber, Keith, Taylor, Braden, Jackson, Delaney, Derek, Gabby, Antonio, Grayson, and great-great-grandchildren William and Eleanor.