WILLIAMSBURG, VA — Rita Kathryn Schwep Bass, 94, of Williamsburg died Sunday, April 8, 2012 at Williamsburg Landing.
Mrs. Bass was born November 29, 1917 in North Plainfield, New Jersey, daughter of the late C. Frank and Reita Weaver Schwep. She was a graduate of the Hartridge School, 1935, and Pine Manor, 1937. She married W. Streeter Bass, Jr. of Wilton, Maine in 1940. Mrs. Bass enjoyed volunteering most of her life for various causes. She was a member of the Jr. League of Washington, a co-founder of the Washington chapter of the Epilepsy Foundation, a mentor for inner city children, and an activist for desegregation in the 50’s and 60’s.
She enjoyed listening to music, was a prolific reader, and loved nature. Her greatest joy was her summer home on Mt. Desert Island on the coast of Maine, where she and her husband, Streeter, spent more than thirty years creating a beautiful retreat from a 140 year old "salt water farm." A self-taught artist, she enjoyed oil painting and decoupage. She will be greatly missed by many friends, and also by those who have cared for her so compassionately during her last years at Williamsburg Landing.
She was pre- deceased in 2001 by Streeter, her husband of 61 years, and by their daughter, Priscilla Hadley Bass, in 1959. She was a member of Bruton Parish Episcopal Church.
Survivors include her children, Carson Bass Lutes, and husband Chris, of Pownal, Maine, and Charles W. Bass, and his wife, Deirdre of Cape Elizabeth, ME; grandchildren, Austin, Jonathan and Alexandra Bass; Matthew, and his wife, Rachel Little- Farmer; Amanda, and her husband, David: and Abigail Johnson. Great grandchildren: Simon Hergenhan, Streeter Little-Farmer, and Jacob Cohen.
A memorial service will be held at a later date at Williamsburg Landing. Memorial donations may be made to the Washington National Catherdral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20016. Online condolences may be registered at www.bucktroutfuneralhome.net.
obits@timesrecord.com
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