Obituary for Rita Mitchell Schwandt

Rita (Mitchell) Schwandt, 90, passed away on February 18, 2021. She was born in West Pittson, PA on October 3, 1930. Rita was a resident of Oro Valley, Arizona.

 Rita was an artist since childhood and studied art in High School. She taught adult evening school classes for a few years when she was living in Harleysville, PA. Rita studied with several professional artists and continued painting until recently. After moving to Arizona, she taught at the San Xavier Mission School for 7 years and in her home. During a stay in Korea, she was commissioned to paint a large 5x8 ft. watercolor for the Weston Chosen Beach Hotel in Pusan, Korea for their restaurant. She also taught other women in the hotel to paint, and her works can be found in England, Italy, and Costa Rica along with many she sold in this country. She worked in all media along with casting, stone sculpting and stained glass.
 

Her work had been exhibited in shows at Ursinus College, Philips Mill, Woodmere Art Museum, Greater Norristown Art League, Upper Merion Cultural Center, Doylestown Art League, and Perkiomen Valley Art Center.  She was artist of the month of Upwyth Art Gallery in Skippack, PA and had paintings in other galleries.  Her paintings were shown in area banks and libraries and she participated in outdoor shows at Gallery in the Park, Sellersville and at the Germantown Art Show.  She has won many awards for her paintings and sculptures.

She leaves behind a husband of 66 years, Wilfred Schwandt and 2 sons, Mark (Wanda), with 2 children and 2 great grandchildren on PA, also, Christopher (Terry) with 1 stepdaughter in CO. She was preceded in death by a son, David in Nov. of 2020.