Rita Kay (Karnes) Utzinger, 72, passed away on Sunday, April 7, 2019 at Centra Southside Community Hospital in Farmville, Virginia. Mrs. Utzinger, daughter of Odell and Jean Karnes, was born on March 11, 1947 in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Rita spent her early years in Michigan where she attended Orchard View High School and Muskegon Business School. On December 30, 1966 she was united in marriage to John Donald Utzinger in Muskegon, Michigan. She raised three sons and she always said, “I love them so much and they make me proud”.

Rita was a voracious reader, a dedicated homemaker, an avid quilter, and a superb cook. During the fifty-two years of marriage, the family lived in seven different states. She always found a tennis team, a quilt shop, and a church where she could study the Bible and sing in the choir. Her favorite hymn was “Victory in Jesus”. A helpful, gracious, and compassionate woman of deep faith she lived her life secure in that victory. She was preceded in death by her parents. Survivors include her husband John; her three sons, J. Michael Utzinger and wife Joy of Hampden-Sydney, Virginia, Timothy Utzinger and wife Michelle of Kansas City, Missouri, and Daniel Utzinger and wife Sandrine of Greenwich, Connecticut; six precious grandchildren, Claire, Catherine, Eve, Emily, Madison, and John; one brother Donald Karnes and wife Terri of Clearwater Beach, Florida; and many beloved nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.

Rita was a member of Faith Bible Fellowship Church in Farmville where she served on a brunch team, faithfully attended Precepts Bible study, sang in the seasonal choir and was her church contact point for FACES food pantry.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday April 28, at 2 p.m. at Puckett Funeral Home in Farmville. There will be visitation with the family starting at 12:30 p.m. Memories and pictures may be shared on the Puckett web site. A reception following the service will be held at the John’s Memorial Parish house. A celebration of life will be held in Muskegon, Michigan on Wednesday, July 3, 2019.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made in Rita’s name to the Pregnancy Support Center, P.O. Box 281, Farmville, Virginia 23901 or FACES food pantry, P.O. Box 644, Farmville, Virginia 23901.

Puckett Funeral Home is serving the family. www.puckettfh.com.