Rita Mary Ostendorf Obituary (1920 - 2013)

Ostendorf, Rita Mary (Hoefler)Age 93 passed away at home Friday August 30, 2013. Rita was born July 29, 1920 in Dayton to Leo J. Hoefler and Helen Wolf. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Paul Leo Hoefler and her husband of 60 years, Lloyd Ostendorf. She is survived by her children Daniel L. Ostendorf of Washington Township, Thomas L. Ostendorf (Rita) of Dayton, and Roxanne McDade (Tom) of Springboro, eight grand children and four great, great grandchildren. Having studied dance from an early age in Dayton, Rita moved to New York after Steel High School. There she danced with the Radio City Corps de Ballet. Later she returned to Dayton and opened up her own dance school in 1939. She also attended the Dayton Art Institute where she met her husband. Rita and Lloyd were married in December 1941. For the next 58 years the Rita Hoefler School of the Dance was home to many students of dance in Dayton, Kettering and the surrounding suburbs. Actively teaching till June of 1997, she retired at age 77. Rita was also a founding member of Twig 3 and later a member of twig 15, both of which raised money over many years for Dayton Children's Hospital. In 1954 she was chosen as dance director for the first UD Flyeretts Dance Team. In 1959 Rita founded the Kettering Civic Ballet who for many years gave joint performances with the Kettering Civic Band. Along with her daughter Roxanne, she performed on the Steamboat Delta Queen in the late 60's and early 70's. The family will receive friends from 4-8 PM Thursday September 5, 2013 at Schlientz & Moore Funeral Home 820 Miamisburg-Centerville Rd. (St. Rt. 725) with a Mass of Christian Burial at 12:00 PM Friday September 6 at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church (3033 Far Hills Ave) with burial to follow at Calvary Cemetery.