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Xi Epsilon Sigma names Valentine Sweetheart 2018

Rita Ruhl

HOWARD — Rita Lehman Ruhl was crowned Valentine Sweetheart of Xi Epsilon Sigma Chapter, Beta Sigma Phi (BSP) Sorority on Tuesday, Feb. 13 at the Kitchen Witch Cafe.

The coronation was conducted by the 2017 Sweetheart, Sally Barner, who also presented Rita with a traditional Valentine bouquet from her chapter sisters.

The new Valentine Sweetheart is the daughter of Louise Lehman and is blessed with two sisters, Patricia Sanders and Judy Walker. Rita attended grades one through eight at St. Agnes School and graduated from Immaculate Conception High School in 1959.

She is the mother of two daughters, Kimberly Yorks and Cheryl Gould, and the proud grandmother of a growing family tree featuring six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

She transferred to Xi Epsilon Sigma at the start of the sorority year in September and has become an invaluable addition to the chapter. She has hit the ground running as co-chairwoman of the Halloween celebration and the Mother/Daughter Banquet in May. Rita has been a sister of BSP for 28 years. She has chaired many standing and special committees and held a number of executive offices over the years.

Her accolades include BSP’s Order of the Rose, honoring 15 years of active membership, as well as the coveted Silver Circle pin and certificate, recognizing 25 consecutive years of membership in Beta Sigma Phi.

Her favorite activities range from her expertise as a talented seamstress to creating beautiful greeting cards, always treasured by those who receive them. She is an avid reader on a wide array of subject matter and she thoroughly enjoys a fashionable kind of recreational therapy called “shopping.”

Rita is a faithful member of Holy Spirit Parish where she coordinates funeral luncheons and assists with the annual Lenten fish fries and the August Parish Fair held on the grounds of St. Agnes Catholic Church.

A passionate, civic-minded individual who loves her heritage and community, she is an active member of the Alpine Star Lodge #1872 in Lock Haven, holding the position of financial secretary. She is also a state trustee for District 8 Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania Sons and Daughters of Italy. Rita was instrumental in the creation of two books as a member of the Book Committee for Lodge #1872. She, together with Elizabeth Pettingill and Betty Heckel, compiled, wrote, edited and laid out the book “To Honor Them… Celebrating our Italian Heritage.” This trio of ladies also penned a second book reflecting on changes throughout the Lock Haven area.

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