RitaLLOYDIt is with great sorrow that the family of Rita Lloyd, report her death at St Tydfil's Hospital on July 3 2010, aged 84. Rita was born on May 10 1926 to William and Olive Griffiths and was the widow of David "Dai" Lloyd, who worked as a miner at Tower Colliery, until his death in 1970. She is also pre deceased by her only sibling and younger sister, Beryl Long. Rita is survived by her six children, Robert, David, Graham, Jane, Griff and Christopher and by her grandchildren and great- grandchildren. Rita spent her formative years at Cross Keys Street, lower Merthyr Tydfil and at Coffins Court, Georgetown. She attended Cyfarthfa Grammar School before leaving to join the WRENS in 1944. She served as a messenger at Portsmouth during the D Day landings and later as a writer, until her demob in 1946. In 1952 she moved to Gellideg Estate, to a hectic life as a housewife and mother. As her children reached maturity, Rita went back to work as a local government officer with the Merthyr Tydfil Council, working in the Town Clerk's and Social Services Departments. In seeking to improve her job prospects, Rita learned to drive and passed her test aged 47. She undertook examinations in shorthand and typing and studied hard to obtain the Diploma in Municipal Administration. She later worked for Torfaen and Usk Councils before moving to Cardiff City Council as a committee clerk. Whilst at Cardiff she realised her desire to travel. She particularly loved Sorrento and Venice and on one occasion ventured on a solo visit to Russia, travelling as far afield as Tashkent and Samarkhan. To enhance her understanding of the places she visited, she studied Greek and Roman History. Upon retiring from local government in 1989, she returned to Gellideg and settled down to a more sedate lifestyle. Sadly in later life Rita developed dementia. Rita will be remembered for her independence, forthrightness, generosity and kindness, her affection particularly for her grandchildren and great- grandchildren, her love of flowers, music and reading. The family wish to extend special thanks to Canon Bev John, for conducting the service; to Raymond Iles & Sons and A & D Davies, for the funeral arrangements; to grandsons David, Marcus, Richard and Ryan for acting as bearers; to granddaughter Beth for producing the Order of Service; to friends, relatives, neighbours and colleagues for their kind expressions of sympathy and support, floral tributes and donations, and to the staff at the Pant Cad Ifor Inn for their hospitality. The family also wish to record their gratitude to the Social Services Care Team; to the staff of the NHS; to Merthyr Care and Repair; to the Council's Lifeline staff; to the Gellideg Foundation Group and to the Alzheimer's Society. It is the family's wish that those who knew Rita and who desire to make a positive and practical gesture of remembrance, do so by making a donation to the Merthyr Tydfil Branch of the Alzheimer's Society at 89-90 High St, Merthyr Tydfil. Tel 01685 353919.
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