Rita E. Steele, age 88, of Sandersville, GA passed away Saturday, December 26 at home. Born in New Egypt, she lived there until moving to Whiting, NJ in 1993 and then Georgia in 2007. Rita was a 1944 graduate of Allentown High School and then graduated from nursing school. She worked as a nurse at Mercer Hospital in Trenton and Hamilton Hospital (RWJ University Hospital) in Hamilton. Rita was a member of the New Egypt United Methodist Church and she enjoyed doing needlework and painting. She was predeceased by her husband, Edward L. “Bud” Steele; her siblings, Norma Blum, Ben Buckalew, and Jane Ryan and a granddaughter, Katie Guthrie. Rita is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Edward and Janice (Huss) Steele of Whiting; a daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Curtis Bentley of Sandersville, GA; three grandchildren, Thomas Steele and wife Johanny of Ohio, William Steele and wife Melissa of Tuckerton and Brian Steele of Bayville; a grandson-in-law, Christopher Guthrie of Sandersville, GA; six great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Rita will be held on Monday, January 4 at 11:00 AM at the Tilghman Funeral Home, 52 Main Street in New Egypt (www.tilghmanfh.com), with burial to follow in Zion Cemetery in New Egypt. Calling hours will be on Sunday evening, January 3 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM and again Monday morning from 10:00 AM until time of service at the funeral home.