Rita Marie (Arnold) Sampson

Rita Marie Sampson, 87, of Canal Winchester, formerly of Cambridge, went to be with her Lord and Savior and her Eddie, at 6:35 P.M. on Wednesday, May 19, 2021. She was born April 18, 1934, in Columbus, a daughter of the late Randall Cooper and Louise Emma (Wenger) Arnold. She was a graduate of Linden-McKinley High School and Ohio University Zanesville Nursing program, class President, Valedictorian graduate of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners of Cincinnati; first nurse practitioner in pediatrics in Guernsey County to obtain national certification; graduate of Ohio University Zanesville as President of class in nursing; on nursing advisory board at Ohio University Zanesville for curriculum advisory board; as an RN/OB-GYN Pediatric practitioner, Rita served on the advisory board of home health of Bethesda Hospital; Head Start Director of Guernsey, Muskingum and Noble counties; Hospice of Guernsey Assistant Director and then director of home health; WCVZ radio announcer volunteer and co-host of Family Hearth and Home with her daughter; Head of Pediatrics as RN, Pediatric Nurse practitioner, Maternity Nursing for 10 years at Guernsey County Health Department; RN for Guernsey County Hospice; RN for State Mental Hospital; RN for Guernsey Memorial Hospital; K- 6 elementary teacher room mother for her three children – forever.

She is survived by her three children, Ronni (Mark) Hollingshead, Scott (Brenda) Sampson, and Robin (Kevin) Kelly; nine grandchildren, Ryan Devolld, Kyle Hollingshead, Megan (Ben) Ranke, Chris Sampson, Heather Sampson, Eliot Sampson, Kayla (Robert) Danko, Cody (Angie) Kelly, and Christina (Toby Warford) Kelly; and seven great-grandchildren, Noah and Gabriel Ranke, Kiya, Kaidynce, Elijah, Antonio, and Emersyn Danko.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by the love of her life for sixty years, Edward Sampson who she married in 1953 and died in 2013.

Rita was very thankful that she and her Eddie, and all their children and grandchildren know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Friends and family may call a half hour prior to the Memorial Service to be held at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, May 29, 2021 at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 128 South Seventh Street, Zanesville with Pastor Andrew Wilson officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to your local hospice or to the Alzheimer’s Association.

The family wishes to thank the Inn at Winchester Trail and Capital City Hospice for the loving care given to Rita.

Dignified and professional services entrusted to BOLIN-DIERKES FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY, 1271 BLUE AVENUE, ZANESVILLE, OHIO.

To send a note of condolence or to order flowers visit www.bolin-dierkesfuneralhome.com, follow us on Facebook, or call our professional staff at (740)452-4551.