Rita Cecelia Magenta

The Magnificent Rita Magenta

After a brief illness, Rita Cecelia Magenta, homemaker, mother and magnificent woman, died at Cottage Hospital on Monday, July 29th at the age of 87.

Rita was born in Philadelphia, PA. on September 13, 1920. She married in 1942 and spent the next 40 years traveling to Air Force base assignments with her husband and raising four children.

Rita moved to Santa Barbara in 1991 from Baltimore, MD after the death of her husband to be closer to family. Rita was an extraordinary homemaker and mother. She enjoyed youthful people, fine dining restaurants, cooking big Polish meals, parties and laughter, world travel and most of all her family and friends. She will be missed by every person who had the pleasure of meeting her.

Rita is preceded in death by her husband, Lt. Col. George S. Magenta, Sr., her daughter, Janice Magenta and her daughter-in-law, Mary Jane Magenta. She is survived by her sons; George S. Magenta, Jr. (Mary) of Albuquerque, NM., Jeffrey Magenta (Val) of Baltimore, MD. ,Pam (Joe) Cocker of Crawford, CO., her sister, Dorothy Fagan of Philadelphia, PA., her grandchildren; Zoey Schroeder (Jeff) of Stevenson Ranch, CA and Amie McGoon of Grand Junction, CO and her two great grand children, Eva & Simon Schroeder.

A memorial service and burial will be held at 2pm on Monday, August 4th at the Santa Barbara Cemetery Chapel. Welch-Ryce-Haider Funeral Chapels are handling the funeral arrangements. In Rita’s honor, White House Florists are doing floral arrangements or donations may be made to the Cocker Kids’ Foundation, P.O. Box 404, Crawford, CO. 81415.