CLEAR, Rita B. age 93 of Hamilton passed away Friday, January 21, 2022 at Birchwood Care
Center. She was born in Columbus, Ohio on August 27, 1928 the daughter of Murdith P. and
Mary (Fath) Byrne. On May 16, 1953 in the Holy Name Church, Columbus, Ohio she married
Joseph F. "Bud" Clear and he preceded her in death on March 6, 2007.
Rita worked at JCPenney for 37 years in the Catalog Department. Growing up on Lane Avenue
in Columbus, she could hear the Ohio State band practicing. She was a lifelong Buckeye fan and
enjoyed singing the Ohio State fight song to her grandchildren. She was a member of St.
Veronica Church (now St. Julie Billiart Church) and sang in their choir for many years. Most
important to Rita was her family and her greatest love was preparing spaghetti dinners for them
every Sunday along with serving her famous sugar and chocolate chip cookies. She enjoyed
playing cards with her friends. Rita was known for her faith, smile, and kind disposition.
Survivors include her children, Maureen (Greg) Reimer, Joe (Joan) Clear II, and Jim (Patti)
Clear; eleven grandchildren; Jon, Katie (Matt) Marker, Michael (Diem), Carole, Matt (Kelsey),
Shannon (Chad) Burnett, Kelli (Blaze) Tart, Joe, James (Kristy), Jana (Dave) Plandowski, and
Jacob. Fourteen great grandchildren; Hunter, Cam, Emma, Alex, Jack, Adler, Beatrice, Ellie,
Cooper, Mac, Blakely, Evelyn, Oliver & Cassidy, two sisters-in-law, Dorothy Byrne and Grace
Clear. Rita was a very special aunt to a long list of nieces and nephews.
Besides her husband she was also preceded in death by a sister, Ann Cox; two brothers, Murt and
Joseph Byrne.
There is nothing stronger than gentleness. -John Wooden-
Friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00am Wednesday at St. Julie
Billiart Church 224 Dayton Street followed by burial in St. Mary Cemetery. Memorials are
suggested to Alzheimer's Research or the Leukemia, Lymphoma Society. Online register book
available at www.zettlerfuneralhome.com