Rita J. Severns, 74, Akron, passed away at 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019, at Hickory Creek of Rochester.

She was born on Dec. 22, 1944, in Jamestown, Tenn., the daughter of Floyd L. and Fonza (Lowe) Owens. On May 1, 1964, in Akron, she married Daniel D. Severns and he survives.

Mrs. Severens had worked for Chamberlain Wiring, Akron, and for Hart, Schaffner & Marx, Rochester, for over twenty years. She retired from Tippecanoe Valley Schools. She had been a member of the Beaver Dam United Methodist Church and had been active with the Blacktop Cruisers. In her spare time she loved to read, garden and supporting her husband in garden tractor pulls.

Survivors include her husband, Daniel D. Severns, Akron; son, Brian and wife Amy Severns, Rochester; daughter, Cynthia and husband Mark Witherby, Berryville, Ark.; granddaughters, Kaley and husband Garrett Branaman, Conway, Ark.; Samantha Witherby, Berryville, Ark.; sister, Nancy and husband Ray Temple, Campobello, S.C.; Danny Owens, Bloomington; sister-in-law, Linda and husband Ned Heighway, Akron; brother-in-laws, Gary And wife Janet Severns, Rochester; and Terry Severns, Rochester; several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m., Monday, Jan. 14, at Zimmerman Bros. Funeral Home, Rochester. Friends may visit from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Athens Cemetery, Athens. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.