Rita Ann (Jessup) Shreve, 67, of Albany, passed away on Saturday May 2, 2026 at her home after a long battle with cancer.

Rita was born in Marion, Indiana, daughter of the late Roger L. and Geraldine Ann (Mitchener) Jessup. She graduated from Madison Grant High School in 1977. She loved agriculture and growing up on the farm and spending time with her cousins and best friend. Being a farm girl meant also being actively involved in 4-H. Rita earned her Bachelor of Science Degree from Ball State 1983. In 1985 sher received her Master of Arts in Education from Eastern Kentucky University. Rita started her career at Wayne Industries in Greeville, Ohio. Moving on to Life Line Children's Hospital in Indianapolis and then Ball Memorial Hospital. She retired in December of 2024 from Ball State University where she was a Professor of Speech Pathology Graduate School. Rita was gifted at diagnostics and had the ability to see the heart of a child and not their disability. She was a member of the National Speech Pathology Association and the Desoto United Methodist Church. In her spare time she enjoyed gardening and cooking.

Rita will be dearly missed by her loving husband, Larry Shreve. They were married on July 25, 1992. Also surviving are Rita's sister Mary Jessup, Columbia City; nephew Jeff (Sara) Jessup, Summitville; niece, Sarah (Adam) Smith, Fairmount; great nephew and niece, Jace and Aniston Jessup; and brother-in-law, Steve Shreve, Muncie; along with those many cousins.

A special thank you to caregiver Annie Chalfant, all the prayer warriors, and those who sent cards and flowers throughout her cancer journey.

Services for Rita have been entrusted to the Fairmount Chapel of Armes-Hunt Life Celebration Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 415 S. Main Street, Fairmount, Indiana. Services will be held on Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Fairmount Friends Church, 124 W 1st St, Fairmount, Indiana. Visitation will be held from 11 AM - 1 PM with the service celebrating Rita's life at 1 PM with Pastor Katy Starks officiating. Burial will follow at Park Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to World Vision for Water Wells.

Memories and condolence may be shared at www.armeshuntfuneralhome.com