YORK Rita Theresa Gotwalt, 88, entered into the Lord's loving care at the Brunswick at Longstown, York, on Saturday, March 28, 2015. Her daughters were holding her hands. She was born on August 27, 1926, in Baltimore, Md., the daughter of William George and Florence Marie (Mellon) May. She was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene Winfield Gotwalt, Sr. Surviving are two daughters, Kathleen Merkert and husband Phillip Merkert, Karen Gotwalt and husband Ronald Reitz; and a son, Dr. Eugene Winfield Gotwalt, Jr. and wife Mellody Lynn Gotwalt; five grandchildren, Andrew Merkert, Steven Merkert, Amelia Gotwalt Reitz, Dr. Angelic Nichole Vetter, Rachel Elizabeth Gotwalt; two step-grandchildren, Jamie Marie Eichelberger and Rashyna Ann Banzhof; four great-grandchildren, Jonathan Merkert and Jiana, Renna and Leina Merkert; five step-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her dear friend, Frank Busch. Rita married Eugene October 11, 1941, and moved into her childhood home on Stanley Place in York to raise their family. She moved to Lake Meade in 1998, where she resided until moving to the Brunswick in 2013. Until her retirement, she worked in the quality control department at Top-Flight, Inc. Rita spent countless hours giving back to the community for many years as a Girl Scout leader at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in York, and until recently, at the Brethren Home in Cross Keys. She had a lifelong love of birds and nature. Friends are invited to visit at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 2935 Kingston Road, York, PA on Wednesday, April 1, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Church at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Mt. Rose Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Girl Scouts or the National Park Service would be appreciated. The family thanks the staff at The Brunswick at Longstown for their loving care and support of our mother. The John W. Keffer Funeral Homes and Crematory, Inc., 902 Mt. Rose Ave., York, is in charge of the arrangements. KefferFH.com