Rita Cecilia Poach

Rita Cecilia Poach, loving wife, beloved mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, passed away in Dublin, Ohio, on Sept. 19, 2023, at the age of 90. Rita was born on Feb. 20, 1933, to Alex and Marie Fuchs in Uniontown, WA. When Rita was only 2 years old, her mom Marie passed away and her dad married Dorothy Fuchs and the family moved to Clarkston, WA, where Rita spent her childhood. After graduating from Clarkston High School, Rita moved to Spokane to pursue a nursing degree from Sacred Heart School of Nursing which included classes with the Jesuits at Gonzaga University. Later, Rita would become an avid Gonzaga basketball fan. She went on to have a long career in nursing that expanded from San Francisco to Northern Virginia to the Naval Hospital in Naples, Italy. Rita thoroughly enjoyed caring for her patients and would always have captivating stories to share about patients, doctors, and colleagues. She remained lifelong friends with many of her nursing friends from Sacred Heart and Fairfax Hospital in VA.

Rita met the love of her life, a charming Army officer, Jim Poach, while she was working in San Francisco. They were married at the Presidio in August 1961 and were blessed with 4 children between 1962-1969. Rita’s years as a young mother were challenging as Jim was deployed to both Korea and Vietnam for active duty, and for a season she was a single mother caring for four children ages 6 and under. But as she always did, she remained joyful and faithful in the face of adversity, and never complained about hardships. She embraced the adventures and transitions of military life, relocating many times over the course of Jim’s career and helping all the children to adapt and enjoy life wherever they lived. She was nurturing, supportive, encouraging, good-natured, fun, and extremely generous to everyone.

Rita and Jim retried in Colorado where they savored the majestic view of Pikes Peak from their back deck for 30 years. She enjoyed life in the Rocky Mountains and enjoyed accompanying Jim on numerous camping and fishing excursions. Rita enjoyed taking cruises, world travel, golfing, bowling and was famous for playing marathon games of gin rummy with her kids and grandkids. She was well known for being a wonderful cook and accommodating host for countless holidays and events for family and friends. Many of her warm and loving traditions and special recipes live on today through her children and grandchildren.

Rita lived according to the values of her Catholic beliefs and her faith was strengthened by other Christian traditions and Alan Jackson Gospel songs. Her life reflected the fruit of the Spirit, and the seeds of love and kindness she sowed in the hearts of her family and friends will continue to bear lasting fruit.

Rita is survived by her children, Richard (Pam) Poach, David (Sharon) Poach, Julie (Drew) Walter, Kathleen Poach; seven grandchildren, 2 great grandsons; sister Rose Marie Lenz and brother John Fuchs. She was preceded in death by her husband Jim, and her sister Dorothy Larson. Rita is interred with her husband Jim at Arlington National Cemetery.