07/08/2022
Rita Marie Albrecht Simpson Nesbitt, 85, of Center, Texas, passed away on July 3, 2022, in Nacogdoches, Texas. She was born on July 8, 1936, in Newald, Forest County, Wisconsin, to the late Edward W. Albrecht Sr. and Ann Ida Vallard Albrecht.
Rita calls the Seattle, Washington area hometown. She graduated from Lake Washington High School, Kirkland, Washington in 1954. She enlisted in the US Air force in 1954, at Seattle, serving in the dental service and attaining rank of A/1C (sergeant) at Lackland AFB, San Antonio. She married Melvin Simpson in 1955 and divorced in 1975.
Her subsequent employment consisted of Boeing Airplane Company, Seattle, as a Research and Development librarian during the BOMARC missile development, which was the beginning of the NASA Space Program; employed at Corpus Christi Army Depot as military travel and passport agent, and technical writer; Corpus Christi Police Department as secretary; Flour Bluff ISD as librarian’s assistant. When possible, she attended colleges in Waco, Lake Charles, and Corpus Christi.
She married. In 1989, the Nesbitts moved from Corpus Christi to Trinity, where she became active in many civic affairs, such as Friends of the Library, Community Fair, Historical Society, Garden Club, Huntsville Raven’s Quill Writer’s Group, Trinity Writer’s Critique Group; and a Charter founding member of Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry. In 1995 she was ordained a Presbyterian Lay-Minister and served as supply preacher to Presbyterian churches in Trinity, Livingston, Crockett, Tomball, and Alabama-Coushatta Indian Church. She has led a number of non-denominational Bible Studies in her home. She was a member of many local churches, and was well known for refusal to compromise on teachings that did not measure up to the Scripture. She was a Fourth Day member of Houston North Emmaus Community’s Walk to Emmaus.
Her hobbies included photography, home decorating, designing, and sewing her own clothes until her right hand became partially paralyzed. Reading, studying Bible history and Bible archeology, and writing Christian fiction about the Civil War era were her latest interests.
She felt her greatest disappointment in her private life was giving up a dream of commercial piloting because of her petite stature, not to mention her “Dysfunctional” depth perception. “Knowing where to find the ground is somewhat important in landing,” she would laughingly explain. But her discovery late in life of her creative writing talent made up for it. She felt her greatest joy was using her talents and gifts to serve her Lord Jesus Christ. She often said her high point in life was preaching and teaching Bible Studies. There were few people she did not like and had many friends in all races and walks of life. She said her love and compassion came from having first-hand knowledge of prejudice because of her Native American Indian blood in an area of Wisconsin where prejudice, anti-Semitism and Nazism ran high. She was taught early in life not to mention her Pottawatomie and Jewish relatives, but she was proud of them, and always hope to track them down.
Rita is survived by:
Her son, Aubrey Lee Simpson and wife Eva Dianne of Center
Granddaughter, Katheryn Scott of Leakey
Four great-grandchildren
Brother, Edward Albrecht of Lynden, Washington
Sister, Judith Warren and son Taylor of Twin Falls, Idaho
Aunt, Louise Vallard of Mountain Home, Idaho
Stepsons:
Stephen Nesbitt of Clear Lake
David Nesbitt of Corpus Christi
She is preceded in death by her husband, William W. Nesbitt; son, William Basset Simpson; mother, Ann Ida Vallard Albrecht; father, Edward W. Albrecht, Sr.; sister, Ida Louise Albrecht.
To send condolences or to sign an online register, please visit www.mangumfh.net.
Mangum Funeral Home, Center, is in charge of arrangements.
