Rita Cheryl Wilson

Rita Cheryl (Atkins) Wilson was born in San Francisco, Calif., to Chester and Marie (Church) Hanna. Her early childhood was spent in Germany where her stepfather was based after WWII - it's a great coincidence that Rita's husband Jeff was born in the same hospital five years earlier. The Army sent the family to Anchorage, Alaska, in the late 1950s, and Rita remained there the rest of her life. As a child, she was a gifted athlete and dancer, and, by 16, became an accomplished skier. She taught classes in "Strong Women" and after she and Jeff became a couple, many, many summer hours were spent on golf courses in Alaska and Arizona. She was fearless, adventurous and always a risk taker, whether in business or bungee jumping. And, oh how fashion conscious she was- a trait she inherited from her mother. In good times and bad, Rita's nails sparkled, she dressed with style and her curly blond hair was perfect - even through bouts of chemotherapy and radiation for a rare form of squamous cell carcinoma. When she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 58, Rita became active in the American Diabetes Association and participated in prototype equipment trials through the University of Washington. After graduation from East Anchorage High School, Rita worked in banking and for Western Airlines, before beginning her successful lifetime career in real estate as agent, broker, sales manager and agent-trainer at Jack White Realty, also serving on the State Board of Realtors. In the 1980s, with ReMax, she was their top agent in Alaska, their #2 in the U.S. and third in the world. In her later years, she traveled widely. Whatever the endeavor, from property sales to committee management, Rita was organized, competitive and unswervingly tenacious. As chair of the East-West Reunion Committee, she had the amazing ability to keep a talkative and sometimes unruly group under control and productive. The 60th class reunion was her final project. She fought her hardest battle, but was unable to attend. She took her journey to the angels at almost the exact time of the first event. Rita was a rare person, loved by so many and positive to the very end when the combination of her many rare ailments finally took her exuberance and her life. Rita was predeceased by her parents; stepfather, Allen Scouler; and brother, Lloyd Rainey. She is survived by her loving husband, Jeffery Wilson; son, Victor (Pippa) Garafola; stepdaughter, Nona Wilson; stepson, Aaron (Elan) Wilson; brothers, Gary Hanna and Richard (Marie) Scouler; sister, Linda Scouler Ferguson; and grandchildren, Ryan, Chase and Sophia Garafola, Liam Gunn, and Marileigh and Dillon Wilson. A Celebration of Rita's life will be held at 4 p.m., on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, at Changepoint Church, 6689 Changepoint Drive, Anchorage, AK 99518. A reception will follow at the church. Dress in Kentucky Derby style - bright and proud.