Biography: Rita Marie (Lehmann) Shields

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH:
RITA MARIE MARGARET6 LEHMANN
Wife of Dale Caleb Shields

  Daughter of: John Michael5 Lehmann   
  (Martin Michael4, Michel/Michael3, Michel2, Johannes/Jean/John/Johann1Lehmann)  
and
Mary Catherine6 MILLS
(Augustus5, Dennis C.4, William W.3, William2, William1 Mills)



Green1.gif (2996 bytes)


In Loving Memory of My Mother
Rita Marie Margaret (Lehmann) Shields



The Story of a Lady in Blue

by
Audrey Ann7 (Lehmann-Shields) Hancock





RITA MARIE MARGARET LEHMANN, 11th child of John Michael Lehmann and Mary Catherine Mills, was born 30 May 1913 at the family home at 1140 South (later South Roosevelt) Avenue in Piqua, Miami Co., OH on traditional Memorial Day. She had interrupted a planned family picnic, and her siblings kiddingly reminded her of that fact throughout her life. Rita was baptized in the Roman Catholic faith at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Piqua, Miami Co., OH and the same birthdate is found on the church record. She joined Catherine, Jennie, Al, Lee, Heine, Jean, Mart, and Gert in the make-up of the family. Two brothers Francis and Gerhard were deceased as infants. All of these eight living children plus Rita survived into late adulthood.


Courtesy of: Audrey (Shields) Hancock

Rita joins her parents and 8 siblings in a family picture.
Of the girls, Rita was the only one born with blond hair and blue eyes.
Back: L>R: Martin, Jean, Heine, Catherine Albert, Jennie, and Leo
Front: L>R: Mary holding Rita, Gert, and John
Two baby brothers had predeceased her birth.

Courtesy of: Karen (Lehmann-Shields) Richey
Certified Birth Certificate

Note the error of the surname spelling.


RITA COULDN'T ESCAPE NICKNAMES

Rita was called "Wee Wee" by her brother, Martin, and then became affectionately known as "Wee Wee" by many of her nieces and nephews. Rita recalled, "He [Martin] always called me 'WeeWee,' never Rita, and another name I'd like to forget...Shit Pot!" Sometimes he'd call me 'WeeWee Manure.' I don't know why, probably just for the fun of it."

Courtesy of: Karen (Lehmann-Shields) Richey

Rita's Engraved Comb

CAREGIVERS FOR RITA

Rita was told that because her mother was quite sickly following her birth that her eldest sister, Catherine, cared for her. "Mom said as a baby that I was no trouble, for if I cried someone would pick me up for a while from the carriage that was usually kept in the kitchen. Mom said that "Sis" [Marjorie Craig], a family fried, used to hold me and be with me alot. She died about seventeen from tuberculosis (aka consumption). I think Mom worried that I might get it."

RITA LEARNS TO WALK

"My sisters told me that I walked at nine months, and I was so small that I could walk under the tables, and that there were little finger prints in the butter kept on the bottom shelf of the cupboard quite a lot."
[Rita]

FAMILY DOGS

There is a picture with Rita holding a poodle in her arms. She appears to be four or five years old. When asked about it, Rita responded, "I don't remember the poodle I was holding in the picture, but I remember Togo who got killed by a railroad hand car. Togo seemed to be the pet of the family."

GERMAN vs. ENGLISH BACKGROUND

The family spoke English for the most part, but a few German words would creep into Rita's communications now and then. She could say the Lord's Prayer in German and could sing some religious songs in German. Since their father was from a French/German background, the children attended the German Catholic St. Boniface School, where for many years only German was taught and spoken. The elder children of the Lehmann family were taught under this influence, but by the time Rita went to school, the practice of German only was fading out. Thus German only crept now and then into conversations. One word that she used frequently when explaining something to her daughters was "verstehst du", thus asking, "Do you understand?"

PIANO

Rita could play the piano in those early years. However, she never had a piano in her later years, so it was very rare for her family to see and hear her play. By then, she would only play a simple tune. Karen recalled that "Mom, knew how to play 'Go tell Aunt Rodie the Old Gray Goose is Dead.' And I think part of a Christmas song."

NO BICYCLE IN HER LIFE

Rita never had a bicycle. In July 1995 she recalled that one day she had gone with her mother to visit her aunt who had children. [NOTE: I would suppose that this aunt was Nancy Jane (Mills) Weis.] They had a bicycle and permitted Rita to ride it. That was the first and last time that she rode a bicycle. [NOTE: Nancy had a daughter named Mary who in later years looked a lot like Rita, perhaps both resembled their MILLS side of the family.]

A SICKLY CHILD

Rita was beset as a small child attending school by various diseases of that time period...diptheria, which left her with a tachycardia heart in later years. She recalled this period in her life in this manner. "I was six years old when I started school, but had diphtheria. I went back to school after New Year's, got the measles and was pretty sick again, went back to school and had to be vaccinated. I got sick again, and this time Mom wouldn't send me back to school, so like Gert I was really seven years old when you could say I started to school." However, within a few years she would skip a grade which placed her back at the grade level she had lost due to the illnesses.

QUARANTINES WERE PREVALENT IN THOSE YEARS

"When I had diphtheria the house was QUARANTINED, but they left the family come and go, but I had to stay in Mom and Dad's bedroom for three weeks. Mom would put on a big apron when she came and went from the bedroom. As I got better she put a big comforter in her special rocking chair for me to sit in a while. I had to learn to walk again. I remember the day that the QUARANTINED sign was taken down. Mom brought in a washtub, filled it with hot water, placed it by the register, scrubbed me, put clean clothes and a dress on me, opened the door that was almost always kept closed between the bedroom and living room, and shoved me through it. It was St. Nicholas Eve, December 6, 1919, and St. Nicholas had left something nice in Gert's and my socks. Then Mom put sulphur on a dustpan and burned it, going through the downstairs, particularly the bedroom where I had been. And...that year for Christmas Gert and I got a lot from Santa--doll buggies, China faced dolls, beaver hats, and new coats." Rita said that her sister, Jennie, purchased many of the items for her younger sisters.



Courtesy of: Dolores (Lehmann-Zimmer) Hirsch


BLUE BECOMES HER COLOR

Rita was told that on one occasion of illness she was very close to death, and her mother, Mary, promised that if Rita recovered that she [Mary] would dress Rita in blue to honor the Blessed Mother. Rita survived, and blue became her color! So for the rest of her life, Rita's color was blue.

SCHOOL

"As mentioned I didn't finish my first year in school due to my many illnesses." These childhood illnesses included: mumps, measles, chicken poxs, diptheria and scarlet fever. However, after that terrible year of bad health, she attended and finished elementary school at St. Boniface Catholic School, of German discipline, with nuns of the Sisters of Precious Blood. Rita made her first communion from St. Boniface Catholic Church probably at the age of seven. She indicated, "Most of the time I took my lunch to school, so I wouldn't have to hurry home and back at noon."

Courtesy of: Audrey (Lehmann-Shields) Hancock

Rita's First Communion Veil


   

Courtesy of: Audrey (Lehmann-Shields) Hancock

Rita on her First Communion Day.

"The following years in school were just normal school years, but I do remember in the 5th and 6th grades (combined), while we were practicing Palmer Method Penmanship, Sister Metadora remarked as she passed my desk while going up and down the aisles checking penmanship, `You're going to be a big person. You've got big hands.' That remark stayed with me all my life and for years I felt like sitting on my hands to hide them." Well, Rita never was a big person, as she only reached the height of 5 ft. 3 in. and her hands evidently never grew much after that.

"Another incident happened when in the sixth grade that has stayed with me. On Friday afternoons the 5th and 6th graders went over to the 7th and 8th grade room for singing. One Friday as I sat with Gert, Sister Eustachia, the 7th and 8th grade teacher, who played the organ, must have seen or heard something she thought I said or did. She evidently blamed it on me. I'll never know what, because I really didn't do anything. She made me come up to the front of the room and stand in front of the four classes. I remember I bit my lips to keep from crying, and she slapped me. I don't know why unless she thought I was talking back or making a face at her. They said she came from a wealthy family, high strung, domineering, but to me she was just plain mean sometimes, but she was the same one who let Marie Burke and I take the 7th and 8th grades together in one year! So I went into high school the following year, putting me where I would have been had I not stopped school in the first grade."

A SPECIAL MEMORY

Another thing I remember during the 7th and 8th grades was "Mission" year. They had them every three or five years. Dad took me once and bought me a little sort of embossed topped box that looked like a book about 1" x 1 1/2" with a little steel rosary in it. I gave the box to someone, but had the rosary until I was around 20 years old. Somehow it got lost. That was in early spring. I was 14 in May, and Dad died in August. That was the last thing he gave me, and he wasn't feeling his best then.

Courtesy of: Karen (Shields) Richey

This is the small metal rosary case.
Inside at one time was a petite purple rosary,
but it was not the one that came with it when her father gave it to her.
We do not know what happened to the small purple rosary.

NO SPECIAL TREATS

The life she had known would soon come to an end, for at the age of fourteen her beloved father died. Rita recalled that the following years were tough years for herself and her sister, Gertrude. Unlike other girls with whom they spent their teenage years, they were not permitted to go out for casual "get-togethers." They could not buy goodies or items they wanted. Money was tight and thus not spent on such frivolous items. Rita recalled that she especially would have loved to have gone to what was known as "Chautauqua" with her friends.

[NOTE:Chautauqua was a series of educational / musical / philosophy / religion programs given across the country ... even in small towns ... for about 50 years. It started in 1880 or 1890 in Chautauqua, New York (hence the name) and by early 1900s traveling tent shows began touring during the summer to bring programs to all parts of the United States. Chautauqua movement ended in the 1930s.]

HIGH SCHOOL

"I went the first year in high school at St. Boniface and then St. Boniface and St. Mary's was combined. Mom said she wasn't going to make me walk out to St. Mary's, so I was sent to the local public high school. I'd get a ride in the morning to Piqua High School. Dorothy Sexton or "Dodgie" Culpepper would take Dorothy, Marjorie, and me to school. After school I was usually on my own, as they had places to go and plans of their own. And, because money was scarce, I could not go with them at other times."


Rita's Sophomore Year 1929
Piqua High School
Piqua, Miami Co., OH


RITA GOES TO WORK

Jack Quinlisk, husband of her sister Henrietta "Heine," worked at the Piqua Electric Mfg. Co. as a bookkeeper. "During the summer between my junior and senior year I worked there sending out advertisements for them, and then in my senior year things slowed down for them so they let the other girl go. I'd walk there as quickly as possible, get there by 3:30 P.M., take over the switchboard, take some dictations from Martin Bauer and Mike Hess. Mike was one of the owners and would come over from the factory late, most of the times, to dictate any letters and so many times it was 6:30 P.M. or a little later until I could leave. Sometimes he would say to write the letters the next day when I came in. I would work on Saturdays until noon or a little later."



"Later on when the Piqua Electric owed Nils Lungard so much money for making the aluminum propellers for them, Nils took over the Aerovent Fan and started his own company. Mike Hess and his family kept the motor part of the company. Aerovent asked me to work for them. It was in the Shawnee part of Piqua, a long walk to and from work, but it was worth it for the money and jobs were scarce.

MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS!

"I remember: when the wind blew the grape arbor down and Dad rebuilt it; when Gert [sister], Leona [a friend], and I tried to see who could drink the most cups of water from that nice cold water from our outside pump until we got sick to our stomachs; when Leona sat on the board in the outhouse and dangled her feet in the hole and her shoe fell off; that we had a three-holer outside toilet...one that was for little children; the cistern at the side of the house; Gert and I chewing the gum from a slippery elm tree;" etc. [Read the rest of Rita's memories in her father's and mother's stories.]

GONE--TWO FRONT TEETH

"I think of the song called "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth" when I tell this story. Jean [sister], Bob [Jean's husband], Bob's brother, George, and Bobby [Bob & Jean's son] were down home. I was standing by the old fashioned ice box with the book from which I was studying placed on top. Jean took a bottle of milk from the ice box and put the cap down my back. I must have opened my mouth and bent forward chipping my two front teeth with the back of the teeth breaking higher up. What was done in fun, didn't end in fun. I had to have gold inlays put on, but since they were chipped higher in the back the inlays kept falling off, so the dentist finally put in what he called pivots by breaking the teeth off at the gum line, drilled them below the gum line, and with metal pins cemented in he joined my replacement teeth to the broken ones. This probably happened about 1930."

Courtesy of: Mary Eileen (Quinlisk) Hanlon from her mother's [Heine (Lehmann) Quinlisk] photo album

"About 10 years later when I was having some health problems, Dr. Trostle said having one pivot tooth was bad enough health-wise and felt two could be causing the problem, so next came a partial plate hooking onto the first molar on each side. The dentist took out the replacement teeth and had to go below the gum line to remove the roots and he stitched the gum down at the center to make it look more natural at the gum line. Later the `hooks' on the molars gradually wore away those teeth and they could no longer be filled. Since I had lost three molars from pressure decay from my wisdom teeth, then came the upper dentures. All this resulted from a second of foolish fun! Jean always felt bad about this, but as we all know, there are things we do that we regret later."




Rita at a Lehmann Family Picnic and with nieces below.
1932


Courtesy of: Mary Eileen (Quinlisk) Hanlon from her mother's [Heine (Lehmann) Quinlisk] photo album


RITA GRADUATES HIGH SCHOOL

Rita was the only one in her family to complete high school. She graduated from Piqua High School at Piqua, Miami Co., Ohio in 1931.

Courtesy of: Audrey (Lehmann-Shields) Hancock

Rita's High School Graduation Picture



   
Courtesy of: Audrey (Lehmann-Shields) Hancock

Rita's Graduation Momentos



Rita
1931-1932



From the album of Rita (Lehmann) Shields

Rita, Vera (#1 wf/o Martin), Daisy Meyer, Gert
Summer of 1933 or 1934


From the album of Rita (Lehmann) Shields

Eddie Meyer, Mart, Joe Beihl (future hus/o Gert), Vera (#1 wf/o Martin), Gert, & Rita
Summer of 1933 or 1934


From the album of Rita (Lehmann) Shields

Back: Daisy Meyer, Gert
Front: Rita, Mart, Joe Beihl (future hus/o Gert), Eddie Meyer
Summer of 1933 or 1934


LIKE MOTHER MARY, LIKE DAUGHTER RITA

Like her mother who sewed everything from underwear to winter coats, Rita, too, was a very creative seamstress. She could take "hand-me-down" items and make them into wearable clothing for her daughters. Rita was very conservative when it came to sewing, perhaps a trait carried over from lessons taught to her by her mother. She would very carefully remove thread from an item, save it, and use it in another item that she would sew at another time. Little ringlets of wrapped thread could be found near her sewing supplies.


Courtesy of: Audrey (Shields) Hancock

Remnants of a Mother's Life

Rita could knit, embroider, and crochet, as many girls learned to do in that time period.

Courtesy of: Audrey (Shields) Hancock

UNFORTUNATE LIFE'S EXPERIENCE

Like her older sister, Gertrude, Rita also entered into an unfortunate marriage that would end in a civil divorce. At the age of 20, Rita found herself unmarried and pregnant, and in a circumstance that had to be resolved. On 10 August 1932, she married Harry McCawley at Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and on 31 December 1932, Harry McCawley, Jr. was stillborn. The boy was buried 1 January 1933 at Forest Hill Cemetery, and this event would soon lead to the culmination of the marriage between Harry and Rita, as they soon divorced. Unlike her sister, Gertrude, Rita was able to obtain a church annulment.

Rita was very open to her daughters about this time in her life. She remembered this unfortunate time like this:
"I had met Harry through another girl when I was a sophomore and a few times he'd pick me up after school to take me home or to work. He worked at a filling station where the shifts changed weekly. I think they stayed open until 10 P.M. We dated on and off. I didn't date others very much, but I'm sure he did. Frankly we were poor, so I didn't get too much to meet anyone very often, other than a few from school once in a while, but they didn't mean much. About time I'd date someone a few times, Harry would be back and date me for a while again. Guess he'd see me, for the gas station was on the corner of Roosevelt and Clark Streets, across from the Wood Shovel. Sometimes he'd drive through the alley that bordered outside the window of the room where I worked. Dating went on from 1929 to 1932. He was nice looking; had a car. I didn't have a steady, so guess I had fallen in love. We never really got much love at home in the way of kisses, hugs, and information on life. I wasn't promiscuous. It was just one time and it happened. I think I had had a couple of beers during the evening, but I often think that nature has a part in giving in--like a dog in heat. You have the will power until conception time and then your will power weakens. I just don't know."

"Then when I was married to Harry McCawley, (on August 10, 1932, Lawrenceburg, Dearborn County, IN) I quit work. It wasn't very long until he'd not come home after work at the gas station...sometimes 2 A.M.. There was nothing I could do but wait it out. I miscarried a little boy on 31 Dec. 1932. I never saw him, but he is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery. Harry took me out one time. I remember it's on the corner where the roads came together, but I don't know the exact place. I never went back to see the gravesite. Catherine [Rita's sister] and his [Harry's] mother came to the hospital to tell me, but in the meantime, one of the nurses had told me he had died. I was so doped up for a couple of days that I don't remember much. When I realized things weren't going to change, and one month when I knew I was not pregnant again, I went home. I think the marriage lasted ten months."

 
From the papers of Rita Marie (Lehmann) McCawley-Shields

Common Pleas Court
Miami County, Ohio
No. 26835
Journal 73
Certificate of Divorce:
Rita Marie McCawley vs. Harry McCawley
Berry and McCulloch, Attorney for Plaintiff

During the interim, "Heine had a nervous breakdown and stayed in bed all the time, so I went there and stayed and worked for a few dollars a week and helped Jack. I requested an annulment through St. Mary's Church, where Jack and Heine went, and later filed for civil divorce which took 1 1/2 to 2 years and got in the divorce decree that Harry had to pay. [The divorce was finalized 26 May 1934. An annulment was granted 13 June 1934. ASH] I didn't date until after the divorce so that there would be no problems. Jack and Heine were very good to me and very supportive during that time in my life. Actually, I had a very loving family who gave me much encouragement and understanding."



RITA WORKS AND MEETS DALE

Rita worked as a secretary and bookkeeper during the years that followed for the Ohio Bottle Cap Company in Piqua. She could write shorthand and was knowledgeable in bookkeeping. She had learned to drive and had a car of her own.




   
From the album of Rita Marie (Lehmann) Shields

L to R: Rita and probably friends, John Attenweiler and Marj. Attenweiler, then a photo of Dale Shields
Apparently Dale was dating Rita at the time that this photo was taken.
1935


From the album of Rita M. (Lehmann) Shields>

Dale Caleb Shields, age 27
1935


She would eventually meet another who would become her lifetime partner. One summer day she was convinced to go on a picnic and there she met, through mutual friends, Dale Caleb Shields. "Dale had a date with my friend, Leona Craig, now Leona Drake, who was visiting on vacation. I went with some fellow who worked with Joe [Joe Beihl] at the Orr Felt & Blanket Co.. A few weeks later we had a date, through Gert [sister] and Joe, as Dale didn't have a car then. We double dated with Gert and Joe until Dale got a car." Dale continued courting Rita and their admiration for one another became evident.

  
Courtesy of: Audrey Shields Hancock

When Dale was dating Rita, he presented her with this initialed [RL] vanity set. He also presented her with a jewelry box.

  
Courtesy of: Audrey (Lehmann-Shields) Hancock


A SECOND MARRIAGE FOR RITA

Courtesy of: Karen (Lehmann-Shields) Richey

Rita married 4 September 1937 at St. Boniface Catholic Church Parsonage, Piqua, Miami Co., OH to Dale Caleb Shields, son of Raymond Dale and Sarah "Sally" Margaret (Creager) Shields. Their witnesses were her sister and brother-in-law, Heine (Lehmann) Quinlisk & Jack Quinlisk.

Courtesy of: Audrey (Lehmann-Shields) Hancock

Courtesy of: Audrey (Lehmann-Shields) Hancock

Dale & Rita honeymoon in Oneida, Tennessee

Rita writes a postcard to her place of employment while on her honeymoon. She states, "This is very pretty country down here. They call the 'mountains' 'hills' down here, but they're still 'mountains' to me. Dale & Rita"

Now in those days, a wife was expected to quit her job, so it was, that Rita became a full-time housekeeper. Her employment was remembered years later in this "FAMILY FOCUS" article of 1 Mar 1988 of the Piqua Daily Call, p.5, when Amy Sherwood recalled her own career in this article, and the role Rita had played in her life.


"Dress needs prods Piquad's business career" by Ruth Reed, Family Focus Editor


Courtesy of: Audrey (Lehmann-Shields) Hancock



RITA & DALE MOVE INTO THE LEHMANN HOME

Dale and Rita moved into the upper converted duplex home of Rita's mother, Mary Catherine (Mills) Lehmann. The LEHMANN family home at 1138 Roosevelt Avenue had been converted into a duplex. The newly married couple lived in the upper apartment (1138 1/2) of this home, and Rita's mother, Mary, lived below. Rita cared for her mother and did housekeeping for her. Here their daughters, Sandra and Audrey, were born. Here the girls were reared for a time until 1946.


From the album of Rita Marie (Lehmann) Shields
11 February 1940
Taken at the Caleb Shields Homestead
Arcanum, Darke Co., Ohio

Residence here on Roosevelt Avenue brought much pleasure to both Dale and Rita. Almost every Saturday and Sunday, members of either or both LEHMANN and SHIELDS families would gather to visit and play cards, but the closeness of family ties were not to last, as necessity eventually took this SHIELDS family far from their hometown, family, and friends they loved.



Courtesy of: Karen (Shields) Richey


MUSIC BOX FOR A SISTER


This music box was given by Rita to her sister, Gertrude. Gert then returned it to Rita in later life. Rita was especially close to Gert since she was the older sister closest to Rita's age, even though there was a three year difference. Her other sisters were married and eventually no longer in Piqua except for Jean and Gert. In later life, Rita would take Gert here and there, as Rita could drive, but Gert couldn't.



Courtesy of: Audrey (Shields) Hancock

Rita and Dale
Audrey and Sandra
1943-1944
A visit to Grandpa (Raymond) and Grandma (Sarah) Shields' farm home.




LETTERS WRITTEN by RITA
TO HER NEPHEWS
John [Johnnie] QUINLISK, Robert [Bobby] RITTENHOUSE, & Leonard [Joe] ZIMMER
WHILE THEY SERVED IN THE SERVICE
DURING WORLD WAR II


Rita had frequently made carbon paper copies of her letters to send to her three nephews in the service. Johnnie Quinlisk had saved these two and returned them to Rita years later.





"Piqua, Ohio
Sat., June 26, 1943

Hello Nep...hews!

Remember once I said when I get too busy I would write you all in triplicate...each a copy. Well, here tis. I've been trying to find time for two weeks now, but no `go'. Here tis almost 3 o'clock. The Kids and I have had our weekly swim with shampoo included...and the Kids are to bed for their siesta (I hope). As for Dale...well, the studio couch has had him since shortly after 1 o'clock and all I hear is a flop and a groan every so often. Don't know whether it's because he feels that bad or if he's having nightmares. It sure has been hot. Is it as hot there as here? I mean they always have said you notice the humidity. How's about it? You've had a good chance of knowing. When I said I was busy I really meant it. I picked peas and beans for 3 hours Thurs. eve while Dale worked. Canned 8 pts. of 1 1/2 pt. (jars) peas and 10 qt. of 1 pt. (jars) of beans yesterday. That means I had my housecleaning to do today. Worked in the potato patch out home [at the SHIELDS family's home] Tues. and Wed. eve. Made Doe [Dolores (Zimmer) Hirsh] a pinafore and Katy [Mary Catherine (Wilkins) Sherman] a skirt, me some shorts, besides washing and ironing. I'm not in the Army, but anyway I'm being kept busy. So if it seems like I'm neglecting you all once in a while, I don't mean to. Comes a let-up,...comes a letter to you. Sandra [Sandra (Shields) Mast] has poison ivy since last Saturday. Started on her face, eyes swelled some, it's heading down. Found a patch on her bundoon yesterday, knee this morning, and ankle before. Hope when it gets to her toes it stops and doesn't retreat. That would be bad! Another groan from the studio couch. Audrey [Audrey (Shields) Hancock] begins to look like a `brown bomber.' Her knees are so dark they look dirty...but it won't come off. Went to Dayton two weeks straight. Dale's `B' gas [ration] book expires July 1st and had some coupons to use up. Think this was our first trip to Dayton since you went along last year, Bob. Going to use some more `B' stamps again soon. Bob, as for those bottle caps, well, they are like that here, too. Government says no wire, so you get no staples. They're trying a new idea of punching out a hole under the tab to strengthen it. If you pull against the tab (after you lift it up) instead of with it, it holds, sometimes. How are you Texan cow punchers coming along? If you have cows, you should have steaks. Up here most packers won't butcher beef (say when they do, it's a loss to them), so we get very little beef. How about sending us a steak??? Gotta be hurrying along. The Kids are still sleeping so I'll let them send their sentiments next time...double dose. Like the paper? Nice holes! Had to use somethin' thin enough so the carbon would transfer. So till next time. So long, from all of us, and we'll be seein' ya all.
Rita, Dale, Sandra, Audrey



  
From the album of: Rita (Lehmann) Shields

Left: Rita with nephew, John Quinlisk, and Sandra in foreground, 1944

Right: Audrey, Robert Rittenhouse (cousin), Sandra, 1944-1945




Sunday, July 1

Hello Nephews!

Here I is again after...it must be three weeks. Doesn't seem possible, but I guess it must be. Here tis 2:30 in the afternoon. Dale is taking his afternoon siesta. He didn't get up till 12:30. Dale Roegner [husband of Lahoma (Shields) Roegner] is home on a 7 day furlough (from Dallas, Texas) and we were at a little party at Ida and Leroy's [Leroy & Ida (Beihl) Shields] last eve. Audrey is taking her nap and I just went in to tell Sandra to get back in bed and quit running around. As for me, Joe (Leonard Zimmer), I'm listening on the side to WCLE, our pet station with the Polish Music Band, etc. with the pet clicks of static, that familiar identification that let's you know you have the right station. I've been getting other Polish Bands from another station a little farther up, closer to 60. I think it's from a Polish settlement town in Indiana somewhere. It was better than (you know) yesterday. It's hot today, but there's more of that thar' `air' going. Guess you noticed this `har is one of them thar' duplicate letters. Bobbie said it is okay with him. How's about it `Joe' and `Johnnie'? Do you mind, too much? It saves me a lot of time, and `time is money', and I still think there's a little Scotch in me somewhere down the line. I've got 12 pts. of peas and over 50 qts. of beans, so when you get home on your furlough if you aren't too tired of beans, let me know, and I'll give you a quart of beans! Speaking of quarts...I've got a liquor ration card too. Can you imagine! Got a `fifth' of Sloe Gin last nite. Boy, am I gonna celebrate some of these days. Bobbie, how do you like your new location? Better than you expected, or worse than you anticipated? Glad to hear there are no `little creatures' there. Sleep more comfortable. This is one of those Sundays, nothing to do, but just feel plain lazy. Haven't had any beef yet. Marty, the butcher, at Dee's said they are expecting some next week. I'm sure getting tired of `hog'. Next page, and incidentally, for your sake, I'll make it the last, if you've lasted this long. Dale has a cow out home. Do you suppose...does a shot gun kick back...too much...so that you (I mean ME) wouldn't be in any condition to eat the beef after you got it? I wonder!!! Might have steak after all. Could be! Could be! Don't know anything to make news. Dale now has two bad tires, so think we'll be `at home' for a while. I read where it only takes 7 years for a rubber tree to grow before it can be tapped. How many trees will I have to plant so that we will have `5' good tires seven years from now? If you figure it out, let me know. Just like this...I'm quitting! So long. Lots of Luck
*Always,
The Shields'
P.S. Johnnie, did you notice that I stuck strictly to Johnnie?







Courtesy of: Karen (Shields) Richey

A SPECIAL SKILL

During World War II, hosiery for women was at a premium and almost impossible to get. Rita learned how to repair hosiery (hose) with this hook. With the hose stretched over a metal cylinder she would work meticulously to bring the running stitch to where it could be attached and sewed. One of the customers was Pauline King who lived next door to the LEHMANN family on Roosevelt Avenue. Even after Rita had moved to Illinois and Indiana, Pauline continued to send her hosiery to Rita for repair.

DALE SEEKS NEW CAREER
A MOVE FOLLOWS

Dale worked for the Piqua Bottle Cap Company. They made the paper flat bottle caps that went into the tops of the glass milk bottles of the time. He wanted to make a change in careers and go back to working for a newspaper. An opportunity arose that took our family to Beaumont, TX. Rita indicated, "In March Dale went down to Beaumont, TX to work and Rita, Sandra, & Audrey followed in May. Mart drove us down in our new Kaiser. It was after the war and cars weren't being made fast enough. You ordered a car and waited for delivery, but Mart was able to get the Kaiser (a new brand of car out, as they weren't selling very well. They were discontinued in a few years)."





Courtesy of: Sandra (Lehmann-Shields) Mast

Cocktail Tree Plate

Letter written to her sister, Gertrude (Mills-Lehmann) Beihl in Piqua, OH, on 25 July 1947, while she, Dale, Sandra, and Audrey were living in Beaumont, TX.




July 25, 1947
Beaumont, TX

Hello Gert,

It's quarter after eleven. I just finished the mending after reading my mail - a letter from you, one from Imo - and the electric bill $1.17. Instead of being finished with washing, ironing, & mending by Wed. I finished up by Friday.

The radio said showers probably this afternoon. It clouded a little before and the kids asked to put on their bathing suits cause they thought it was going to rain, but the sun is shining. I don't think it's rained for at least three weeks, in fact, the water is low and they need rain. I don't believe we've had more than four good heavy rains since we've been down here.

When I hear how cold and rainy it is up there, I'm really thankful I'm here. It's supposed to be 90o today. The last few nights have been cooler and a sheet feels good. Audrey wants a cover, but they are far from being cold. [NOT TRUE, MOM. I'VE BEEN COLD ALL MY LIFE!] I think the gals wore sweaters one evening, maybe two, since we've been here, but not for six weeks.

I got a letter Wed., I think, from Jean and she said they had painted the house and were raising the rent too high and that they'd move in down home. I sent an air mail back that day and told her to go ahead, put the furniture where she wants it, use it if she can, and we'll try to pack it up in one room when we come up. We are figuring on coming up about August 28th. I thought sure we'd have an empty house to move into by now, but I'm not gripeing, because maybe it's for the best. Dale thought we might store some of this furniture in that back room and bring most of ours down, but I asked Mrs. Griffin last week when they came and cleared out the garage, and she said she didn't see how it can possibly be done, it's the smallest room in the house, and there's no room for anything else. Oh, yes, they gave us the garage and the O.P.A. raised it $5.00, so it's $52.50 now, but there's nothing we can do. Dale cleaned out some junk and nails and glass, but we haven't used it yet till he can look it over so we don't get flats.

Dale hasn't been quite satisfied with the way the Arkansas fellows are doing, neither have the rest of the fellows. One fellow from Chicago, an apprentice, quit about three weeks ago, another Mexican from Corpus Christi is to leave this week. You see, the boss of the stereotyping department is from Arkansas and he naturally (you can't really blame him in a way, though) pulls for the fellows from Arkansas, with extra time, etc. Schaffer from Dallas, Texas, who was here before the Arkansas guys is going to take over the night foremanship job, and Dale, Williams from Abilene, Texas, and another guy from Silsbee (remember about 18 miles from Beaumont) are to go on nights next week. That will break up the Arkansas gang. They argue among themselves a lot, and one of them Boone is sore at Schaffer cause he got the job. One or two Arkansas guys will have to work at night. It throws a monkey wrench into their little pie, makes Dale back on night work for two months (supposed to change every 2 instead of 3 months, now) and should straighten things out one way or another.

I'm not worrying about anything. We intend to string along. Dale will get a chance at night under Shaffer to learn more, as things stand now; we'll plan on taking our vacation the 28th, and I feel after a trip home we'll know what we're doing one way or another. If Dale is ready to come back here we'll keep after them and after them for an empty, so we can vacate up there. I won't be satisfied living without my stuff forever and we can't pay $52.50 plus utilities, $25.00 up there, with all the inconveniences here. I don't see any sense in holding the house for us, though. Whatever happens is of our own making and if we push ourselves out of a house, we'll have to worry about that ourselves. If they can only push the stuff in one room till we get up there to take care of it. I really hate for someone to have to do our work for us. I also wish that I could be there to do my part, since Mom is sick.

I get lonesome and so does Dale, I know, but the kids really like it and I feel it is and would do them a world of good here. They have 2 first, 2 second, 2 third, 2 fourth, etc. grades (the third, fourth, and fifth grades are in frame buildings which Pat calls cottages) and I believe Sandra would do better than 2 grades in the same room. They also have the chance of being on their own. It may be that this winter the weather might not be good. On the other hand, it's damp in Ohio, the sun does shine down here, and it's salt air. I believe if Dale really wants to stay at this work and we got settled here, aside from being lonesome, I wouldn't mind too much.

Rita & Dale at the Gulf of Mexico


This is kinda messy, but I'm sure we'll know what's what by September.

Glad to here about Uncle George [George Mills, brother of Mary Catherine (Mills) Lehmann] and he sure is different!! Got the box last Sat. Sent the pictures Sun. Be see'in you Aug 30th (I'm too far ahead) maybe. Don't know what way we'll come. Thought we might go to Jackson, then Memphis and stop at Dyerburg, Tenn. to see "Peck" [Dale's Creager uncle]. From there we could go to Cairo and hit the road we came down on thru Indianapolis or go through Cincin.

It's after 12 o'clock and I'm getting hungry so I'd better do something about it. Write when you get a chance. Dale finally wrote his mom and answered Earl's [Dale's brother] letter, Wed.

Oodles & Oodles of Love,
xxxx (1000000000000 times)
Rita



DISENCHANTMENT WITH TEXAS
MOVE BACK HOME

Rita did not particularly care for the new environment (spiders, snakes, insects, lizards, and creepie crawlers of all kinds)and missed her family. Knowing that Dale was working as a scab laborer instead of an union laborer, she was afraid of reprecussions. She convinced Dale to return to Piqua (1948). Upon returning he was able to go back to work for Piqua Bottle Cap Co., but soon after they sold out. The company moved to Oneida, NY leaving their employees out of work.

Upon returning to Piqua, the family was unable to move back into their duplex home even though they had continued paying rent. Rita's sister, Jean and family, had taken up residence in their place. Unable to locate a home or apartment to rent, the family moved into the country of home of Dale's parents who lived on a farm. This was also a sign of the times, as soldiers were returning from the war and housing to rent or buy was thus at a premium.

Courtesy of: Audrey (Shields) Hancock

Audrey, Sandra, & Rita on the SHIELDS' farm
Spring 1949
The car was Kaiser.

DALE FINDS WORK AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS,
THEN A MOVE TO DECATUR, ILLINOIS

For a time Dale went to Dayton, OH to work for a car manufacturer by working on the assembly line. He was unhappy there, and finally took a temporary newspaper job in Joliet, Illinois for a weekly newspaper. He left his family living with his parents [Raymond & Sarah (Creager) Shields] on the farm and returned weekends as he could. In 8 months the family moved to Decatur, Illinois where Dale had taken a job with the newspaper there. Here Rita helped Dale with correspondence courses so that he could get his journeyman's card.

  
Courtesy of: Audrey (Shields) Hancock

Here, Rita created matching skirts for Sandra and Audrey and a pinafore for Karen.
Sandra, Karen, & Audrey and then Karen and Audrey in Decatur, IL.
1951

ANOTHER MOVE
ANDERSON, INDIANA BECOMES NEW HOME

On one of the trips through Anderson, Madison Co., IN to Piqua, Rita convinced Dale to stop to inquire if there were openings at their local newspaper. He discovered that they were in the process of restructuring and combining newspapers, so a pressman position was available. Dale again left his family. Upon finding rental accommodations, the family was moved to Anderson. After about a year, they purchased a home and moved into 1715 Central Avenue. I [Audrey] was visiting Grandma Lehmann during this time and recall when I heard the news that I cried. I was so happy to learn that we were settling and there would be no more moving. Here Dale & Rita remained until Dale's retirement.




From the album of Rita (Lehmann) Shields

Neighborly Get-Together
at 1715 Central Avenue, Anderson, IN
ca 1953
Back: Ed Huntzinger, Harold Gunckle, Audrey, Dale, Sandra, & Karen
Bess Huntzinger and Rita



Courtesy of: Audrey (Shields) Hancock

Rita kept the addresses of relatives and friends in this booklet.
At one time, she wore this watch.



   
From the album of: Rita (Lehmann) Shields

Rita
Left: Taken at Piqua, OH, Spring of 1953
Backyard of 1715 Central Avenue, Anderson, IN, ca 1955


  
Courtesy of: Audrey (Shields) Hancock

Dale and Rita
at 1715 Central Avenue, Anderson, IN
June 1956


Courtesy of: Karen (Shields) Richey

Rita and Dale
Karen, Audrey, & Sandra
at 1715 Central Avenue, Anderson, IN
June 1959


From the album of Rita (Lehmann) Shields


   

Dale Shields & Rita (Lehmann) Shields and Joseph Beihl & Gertrude (Lehmann) Beihl
celebrate their 25th Wedding Anniversaries
1962
at home of Joe & Gert
410 Wood Street
Piqua, Miami County, Ohio

Joe and Gert were married August 28, 1937.
Dale and Rita were married September 4, 1937.

  

Rita's sisters (Jennie, Heine, Jean) surprised them with a 25th Anniversary party and gave them each a 25th Anniversary Plate and 25th Anniversary Candy Bowl. In later years, both Rita and Gert passed one of their pieces to each of Rita's daughters, Sandra and Audrey, on their 25th Wedding Anniversary, who were both married in 1960. Audrey received Rita & Dale's candy dish and Gert & Joe's plate, so that they too each had a set.


From the album of Rita (Lehmann) Shields
Rita (Mills-Lehmann) Shields, Alida (Covault) Bayman-Lehmann, and Joyce Bayman (dau/o Alida, step-dau/o Martin Lehmann)
ca 1965




The Gathering of LEHMANN SISTERS
Prior to 1966
From the album of Rita (Lehmann) Shields
Left to Right: Husbands: Roy Zimmer, Joe Beihl, Rex Denman, & Dale Shields
Left to Right: Sisters: Rita Shields, Jean Rittenhouse-Denman, Heine Quinlisk, Gert Beihl, & Jennie Zimmer


From the album of Rita (Lehmann) Shields
L to R: Roy Zimmer, Joe Beihl, & Rex Denman


  
Courtesy of: Jo Antionette (Wilkins-Sherman) Childers
Left photo: Husbands: Roy Zimmer, Joe Beihl, Rex Denman, & Dale Shields
Left photo: Sisters: Rita, Jean, Heine (center/front), Gert, Jennie
Right Photo: Sisters: Rita, Jean, Heine (center/front), Jennie, & Gert


Courtesy of: Audrey (Shields) Hancock

1969-Rita at work
Secretary to the administrator at St. John's Hickey Memorial Hospital, Anderson, Indiana


Courtesy of: Audrey (Shields) Hancock

Rita and Dale
at 1715 Central Avenue, Anderson, IN
1969


Courtesy of: Audrey (Shields) Hancock

4 September 1970
Dale and Rita
at 1715 Central Avenue, Anderson, IN
celebrate their 33rd wedding anniversary
on the same day that their daughter Karen marries.


  
From the album of Rita (Lehmann) Shields

Right & Left Photos: Sisters, Gert (Mills-Lehmann) Beihl, Heine (Mills-Lehmann) Quinlisk, and Rita (Mills-Lehmann) Shields


DALE RETIRES, THEN THEY MOVE BACK HOME TO PIQUA

Dale retired from Anderson Newspapers, Inc. and since their girls were married and living elsewhere, Dale and Rita moved back home to Piqua in August of 1972. Here they purchased a Cape Cod style home at 1518 Sweetbriar Avenue. Here they could again be with family members and old friends and acquaintances who were still around, although in the interim, all lives had changed. The fun times of their past was not to be resurrected except through memories. The close family ties had diminished in their absence. Times had changed. Here Dale suffered a fatal heart attack on July 1, 1982 at 74 years of age while relaxing after mowing the grass.

Rita at Gert's and Joe's at 1702 Williams Place, Piqua, Ohio
August, 1983



RITA's POT PIE

   Cook and debone one old hen, save broth.
   Mix together:
   5 cups flour
   1 1/2 tsp. salt
   3 level tbsp. lard (shortening)
   2 tsp. baking powder
   After mixing, add 1-1 1/2 cups cold water

   Blend as with pie dough, then roll out.
   Using table knife, cut rolled out dough into 1-1 1/2 in. squares.   
   Drop into boiling chicken broth, and cook.
   When cooked, add deboned chicken pieces.
   Cover and continue cooking on low for 30 minutes.









RITA's RIVELS

Beat one egg.
Put in 1 tsp. salt & 1 tbsp. water.
Mix and continue to cut in and mix with a tablespoon until all the flour is mixed with the egg.
This should make small noodley lumps, which should not be sticky.
If sticky, add a little flour at a time to create small lumps.

This mixture can then be dropped into potato-onion-milk soup or beef-broth-rice soup, or other for a hearty soup. Continue cooking your soup with the rivels for about 30 minutes.






RITA's FRENCH COFFEE CAKES

4 cups flour
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup shortening
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
Mix above together (the same as for pie crust). Save out 1/2 cup of the crumbs. (To this 1/2 cup crumbs add 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1 tsp. cinnamon.
Boil a little water (a tablespoonful) and add 1 tsp. soda to scald the soda.
Then add a little less than a pint of sour milk to the scalded soda water and blend with the other ingredients.
Put into 3 round cake pans.
Bake 350o F. for 30 minutes.






RITA's MAYONNAISE CAKE

   Mix together:
   2 cups flour
   1 cup sugar
   2 tbsp. cocoa
   1 tsp. vanilla
   1 cup Miracle Whip
   2 tsp. baking soda dissolved in 1 cup hot water

   Blend with beaters.
   Grease and flour 9 x 9 cake pan.   
   Pour mixture into baking pan.
   Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.

   For a flatter cake, spread into 9 x 12 baking pan.

   For a larger cake, double the recipe and place in 9 x 12 baking pan,   
   then bake for about an hour.









RITA's BARBEQUE
(SLOPPY JOES)

2 lbs. hamburger (ground beef)
1 bottle Chili Sauce
3 small onions
1 very large or 2 small Mangoes (aka green peppers)
2 tbsp. horse radish

Special note: Although we know mangoes to be tropical fruit, in those days a MANGO was a specific variety/type/kind of green pepper. Many from the midwestern states of Indiana and Ohio typically called a green pepper, a mango, as did grocery stores. Many people still do.






RITA's CANNED CHILI SAUCE

8 lbs. tomatoes
4 large onions
4 large green peppers
1/4 cup salt
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 tbsps. ketchup spice
1 tbsp. paprika
2 1/2 cups vinegar

Peel or skin tomatoes & onions.
Chop both very fine.
Combine all ingredients and cook until thick.
Pour into sterilized pint jars.
Makes about 7 pints.






DATE NUT PUDDING

Soak while preparing batter:
1/2 cup dates
1 cup boiling water
1 tsp. soda

Batter:
Cream 1 cup granulated sugar and 2 tbsp. butter
1 egg
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder

Add batter to date mixture above.

Bake 350o F for 30-35 minutes.

While pudding is baking, make a syrup of the following:
1/2 cup chopped dates
2/3 cups brown sugar
1 cup water

When pudding is done, pour syrup over it.
Serve with dollop of whipping cream.










RITA's SPICY OATMEAL COOKIES

These were her husband's (Dale's) favorite.
They became Rita's also, since she HATED raisins that were put into traditional oatmeal cookies.

2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 cup coconut
2 well beaten eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. allspice (optional)
3/4 cup melted shortening

Sift flour once, measure, add soda, sugar, salt, spices, and sift again.
Add rolled oats and coconut.
Mix well.
Combine eggs, melted shortening, milk, and vanilla and add all at once to dry ingredients.
Drop onto ungreased baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
Bake at 350o F. for 15-18 minutes.
Makes 3 dozen large cookies.
For cookies with rough appearance stir batter til ingredients are just blended. [This writer (Audrey) adds 1/2 to 1 cup nuts also when she makes her mother's cookies.]








RITA's BEEF-RIVEL-RICE SOUP

2 lb. beef roast (Boiled for 2 hrs.)
Once cooked, save broth, and break apart tender meat into small chunks.
Drop 1 1/2 handfuls of uncooked rice in hot broth and cook 15 minutes.
Blend to make rivels:
1 cup flour, 1/2 tsp. salt, and 1 egg.
Stir with fork adding little more flour (if needed) until mixture can be crumbled with fingers.
Add rivels to broth, cooked rice, and meat.
Continue cooking about 1/2 hour.




RITA's BREAD PUDDING

2 cups scalded milk
3 or 4 cups soft bread pieces
1/8 cup butter or heaping tbsp. lard
2 beaten eggs
1/4-1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup raisins (I use nuts.)
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
Heat milk, add bread, and butter.
Add sugar, salt, cinnamon, & nuts to eggs.
Slowly pour into hot mixture.
Pour into greased baking dish set in pan of hot water.
Bake 45 min. to 1 hr. (until set).
350o F.




RITA's JELLO CAKE

Pre-bake a white or yellow cake in rectangular pan and cool.
Dissolve a regular package of jello (strawberry or cherry) in 1 3/4 cups water.
Add fruit cocktail to jello and refrigerate to almost firmness.
Beat jello mixture and use as a frosting atop the cooled cake.





This recipe was found in Rita's recipe box.
Rita made these, but I do not know whose original recipe this was. Perhaps someone will recognize the handwriting, as it is not Rita's. Rita made them in the fall of the year during apple dumpling season. This writer has done the same.


Cinnamon Apple Puffs
(Recipe of Rita M. (Lehmann) Shields)
Boil to a syrup (abt. 5 min.)
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1/2 to 3/4 cup Red Hot candies (cinnamon candies)

1 1/2 lb. apples (10-12 medium) peeled and thinly sliced.
Place sliced apples in greased shallow baking pan (8 x 12).
Pour syrup over apples in baking pan.

Make a soft biscuit dough of:
1 1/2 cups (sifted) enriched flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
Cut in (blend) 1/4 cup shortening until mixture looks like "corn meal."
Then stir in 3/4 cup milk to make a soft dough.

Make mixture of 2 tbsp. melted butter, 2 tbsp. Sugar, and 1/2 tsp. of cinnamon.

Drop 12 spoonsful of dough on top of apples and make a dent in the top with a spoon.
In each dent place a little of the cinnamon mixture.

Bake 25 to 30 min. 450 degrees. Serve warm.

(Can be refrigerated and reheated in microwave for individual servings. ASH)
(Can probably be frozen. ASH)
(Can use Bisquick type mix for quicker prepared biscuits. ASH)



Orange Cookies
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 cup shortening
2 eggs, well beaten
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup sour milk
4 cups flour
1 tsp. soda
2 tsp. baking powder
juice and grated rind of orange

Mix all above ingredients together.
Refrigerated 15 minutes, then drop by teaspoon onto baking sheet.
Bake 425 degrees , bake light, 42 cookies

Frosting: Mix juice of one orange and grated orange rind
with powdered sugar to icing consistency.
When cookies have cooled, frost the cookies.





SHIELDS and BEIHLs
Visit Jack & Heine (Lehmann) Quinlisk
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Prior to 1974

Sisters and Husbands
Dale a& Rita (Lehmann) Shields & Joe & Gert (Lehmann) Beihl


From the album of Rita (Lehmann) Shields
Sisters and Husbands
Gert & Joe and Rita & Dale


   


Saying "GOOD-BYE" to Heine and Jack was difficult.


From the album of Rita (Lehmann) Shields
Undated


RITA'S MEDICAL HISTORY

Rita had numerous diseases and ailments in her lifetime. Mumps, measles, chicken pox, diptheria and scarlet fever came in childhood. A lifetime of tachychardia followed due to her bout with diptheria. She had an appendectomy in 1945. Histoplasmosis was discovered when she was about 60 years of age. Rita had a historectomy in the early 1960s. Her gall bladder was removed shortly after the move to Piqua 1972-1973. In 1974 her heart was checked via heart catherization, as her bouts of tachychardia worsened. In 1990 she was checked for lupus via a Bio-lateral Temporal Artery Biopsy which turned up negative. She had a hemmorhoidectomy and pyloroplasty. She was diagnosed with PolyMyelia Rheumatica in 1991 and suffered from congestive heart failure and migraine headaches as she aged. A stroke was noted by 1993.

RITA'S LIFE COMES TO A CLOSURE

After Dale's death, Rita continued to live for some time at their Piqua home, but in 1987 she sold their home and moved to Indianapolis to be near her daughters, Karen, who would become her caregiver, and Sandra. She first moved into a retirement apartment, but she remained reclusive and did not take part in any of the senior activies. Then in 1989 she took up residency in the home of Darrell & Karen Richey. Her life had been built around Dale and her girls. She had been on oxygen for a couple of years prior to her death. On Tuesday, January 9, 1996 Rita had a very high fever and flu symtoms, but by Wednesday evening she appeared to have weathered that flu for she worked on her 1996 quarterly taxes. However, sometime during that night her fever returned and by 3:30 P.M. Thursday she was in the hospital with Karen having given authorization to resusitate her not knowing what was happening.

After a night of unresponsiveness, unconsciousness, and convulsions, Rita's daughters (Sandra, Audrey, & Karen) reluctantly asked the doctor the next morning to cut life support, as it was always her wish not to be kept alive indefinitely when the result would not prove to be to her advantage. Tubes and life support were withdrawn, and with family encircling her hospital bed, Rita peacefully fell into a permanent sleep, and her spirit left her aged body. Rita Marie (LEHMANN) SHIELDS died 13 January 1996 at Community North Hospital, Indianapolis, Indiana from sepsis (infection) streptococcus pneaumonea which caused meningitis of the brain. Her body was placed in the care of Flanner & Buchanan Mortuaries in Indianapolis and transported to Piqua, Ohio for burial. She was buried 16 January 1996 at Forest Hill Union Cemetery, Piqua, Miami County, Ohio next to her husband of many years. Goodbye, MOTHER.




Courtesy of: Karen (Shields) Richey

Dale Caleb SHIELDS & Rita Marie Margaret (LEHMANN) SHIELDS
June 1982






Places that Dale and Rita lived during their marriage.
September 1937 to May 1947
1138 1/2 South Roosevelt Avenue
Piqua, OH

May 1947 to August 1947
3115 Gilbert Street
Beaumont, TX

Sep. 1947 to Nov. 1949
R. R. Demming Road
Piqua, OH
Country farm home with Raymond D. & Sarah (Creager) Shields

Nov. 1949 to Nov. 1951
1812 E. Main Street
Decatur, IL

Nov. 1951 to Aug. 1952
111 Delaware Street
Anderson, IN

Aug. 1952 to Aug. 1972
1715 Central Avenue
Anderson, IN

Aug. 1972 to 1987
1518 Sweetbriar Avenue
Piqua, OH
Rita continued living here after Dale's death for a time.

1987 to 1989
8480 Craig St., Apt. 220 Indianapolis, IN
Retirement apartment for Rita

1989 to January 1996
Indianapolis, IN
Rita lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Karen & Darrell Richey

And together, Dale and Rita rest eternally at Forest Hills Cemetery.




VISIT:
KEEPSAKES
    from the life of    
Dale and Rita





Children of this union included:
  1. Mary "Sandra" Iris Barbara SHIELDS
  2. "Audrey" Ann Patricia SHIELDS
  3. "Karen" Eileen SHIELDS



See: LEHMANN FAMILY HOMEPAGE




Webpage by:   Audrey Shields Hancock of Portage, Michigan




Created: 14 May 2001
Revised: 07 October 2002
Revised: 20 July 2017



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Children of John Michael5 Lehmann & Mary Catherine Mills:
  1. Catherine Mary6 LEHMANN
  2. Johanna "Jennie" Nora Francisca6 LEHMANN
  3. Albert "Al" Henry6 LEHMANN
  4. Leo "Lee" Martin6 LEHMANN
  5. Henrietta "Heine" Catherine6 LEHMANN
  6. Regina "Jean" Cecelia6 LEHMANN
  7. Martin "Mart" Michael6 LEHMANN
  8. Francis Henry6 LEHMANN
  9. Gerhard John6 LEHMANN
  10. Gertrude "Gert" Philomena6 LEHMANN
  11. Rita Marie Margaret6 LEHMANN



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Story/Photo Contributors:

  • Gertrude Philomena Cecelia (MILLS-LEHMANN) BEIHL (deceased)
  • Rita Marie Margaret (MILLS-LEHMANN) SHIELDS (deceased)
  • Audrey Ann (LEHMANN-SHIELDS) HANCOCK
  • Karen (LEHMANN-SHIELDS) RICHEY
  • Linda Lee (CAIN-LEHMANN) GROTE



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See: LEHMANN FAMILY HOMEPAGE


Webpage by:   Audrey (Lehmann-Shields Hancock of Portage, Michigan

Created: 16 March 2002
Revised: 20 April 2015
Revised: 20 April 2017



Tiny URL: http://tinyurl.com/y9ot2tgz