Reta M. Enders of Hinsdale passed away on July 10, 2020, at her home.
Reta, 99, was born in 1921 to Raymond Parkhurst and Eva Woolley Parkhurst and named Reta Mae. She and her twin, Leta Rae, were the fifth and sixth of seven children in the family and grew up in Oswego.
She met her husband, Emil M. Enders, at a roller rink in Plainfield, and they were married in 1941. Emil enlisted in the Army Air Corps and together they fought the battle of Texas, moving frequently, and were stationed in Las Vegas at the end of World War II.
They returned to Chicago and built a home in Elmhurst, where they raised three children. Emil was the comptroller of Life Newspapers and Reta worked in sales for Marshall Fields in Oak Brook. After their retirement in 1983, Reta and Emil moved to Keowee Key, S.C. and later to Clemson, S.C., where they were founding members of Eternal Shepard Lutheran Church. In 2011, Reta returned to Illinois to be with family and lived in Hinsdale and Lombard.
Reta was an avid reader and enjoyed bridge, flower gardens and birds. Most of all she loved her cats, Fred and Lucy, and poodles, Airedale terriers, and Megyn, her Welsh terrier.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Emil; her grandson, Mark Enders; and her siblings, Sarah, Floyd, Everett, Alberta, Leta and Emily.
She is survived by her children, Donna (Kent) Charlesworth, Randall (Karen) and Kimberly; her grandchildren, Brian Charlesworth, Randall (Michelle) Enders, Kristin (Timothy) Timmons, Matthew (Amie) Enders, Daniel Charlesworth, Andrew Charlesworth, Jay (Rebecca) Pranger and Harley (Rosalia) Pranger; and her great-grandchildren, Ethan, Jayce, Jayden, Addison, Mattie, Aubrey, Luke, Arlen and Cara.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 18, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 139 E. First St., Hinsdale. The family will receive friends at the church beginning at 10 a.m. A luncheon will follow the service.
Interment will be in the columbarium in the church garden at Eternal Shepard Lutheran Church in Seneca, S.C., at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Little Lambs Preschool, Eternal Shepard Lutheran Church, 220 Carson Road, Seneca, SC 29678 or to a charity of choice.
Brian Powell Funeral Directors of Hinsdale handled the arrangements.
