Rita Deane Waibel, 92, of Edina, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at the Knox County Nursing Home in Edina, Missouri. She was born January 30, 1933, in Greensburg, Missouri, the daughter of Edgar and Ethel Ermyntrude Lowe Fetters. Rita attended Edina Elementary and graduated from the Edina High School in the Class of 1950. On March 9, 1955, at the Edina First Christian Church, Rita married William Richard Waibel. Rita was instrumental in starting the Novelty Community Club Concessions and helped start the Novelty Senior Citizens Center.
She was a 4-H leader, taught piano lessons, and played piano for churches in Baring, Hurdland, Novelty and Edina over the years. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and Order of Eastern Star in Edina, Missouri. Rita was gifted in hospitality and enjoyed hosting traditional holiday events, birthday parties, family dinners, playing cards, visiting with friends and family, but most of all she loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Rita is survived by two children, Rhonda Chadwell (Mike Weed) of Pensacola, Florida, and Roger (Tina) Waibel of Edina, Missouri; a daughter-in-law, Deborah Waibel of LaBelle, Missouri; sisters-in-law, Margaret Fetters of Muscatine, Iowa, Wynona (Brian) Banks of Edina, Missouri, and brother-in-law Garland Waibel of Memphis, Missouri. Nine grandchildren: Miyo Brown, Tanya Botkin, Charles K. Chadwell, Jr, Lagina (Hugh) Campbell, Lacy (Kelly) Hayes, Nakisha (Kurt) Goodwin, Shelly (Eddie) Shakelford, Randal (Lindsay) Leckbee, and Chrissi (Christian) Jenkins. Twenty-one great grandchildren, seven great-great grandchildren, along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Edgar and Ethel Fetters; husband, William Richard Waibel; son Ronald Stephen Waibel, and two brothers, Eugene (Velma) Fetters, and Larry Fetters, and sister-in-law Doris (Jim) Murray; and father and mother-in-law, V.O. and Irene Waibel.
Funeral Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 3. 2025, at the Doss Funeral Home in Edina, Missouri.
Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday, May 2, 2025, at the funeral home with an OES Service at 7:00 p.m. by the LaBelle Chapter #316 Order of Eastern Star.
Interment will be in the Novelty Cemetery in Novelty, Missouri.
An expression of sympathy in memory of Rita Waibel may be left to the Knox County Ambulance District or Knox County Nursing Home. A memorial may be left at or mailed to the Doss Funeral Home 208 N. 4th Street, Edina, Missouri 63537.