Obituary - Rita Fallon Spence

Rita Fallon Spence, 75, of Kinston, NC passed away on Thursday, May 11, 2023 at Springbrook Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Clayton, NC.

She was born in Providence, RI in September of 1947 to Thomas Francis and Mary Rita Fallon. The family moved to Kinston in 1961 where she ultimately became the epitome of volunteerism for anything to make Kinston and Lenoir County a better place.

She graduated from Grainger High School in 1965 and honored her class for years to come by planning and organizing many of their class reunions. She received her cosmetology license at Lenoir Community College and was employed in the beauty shop at JCPenney's for a number of years.

Rita was well-known in the community for her organizational skills and attention to fine details. This was translated into her involvement with planning multiple community events involving the Community Council for the Arts, Lenoir-Greene United Way, The American Red Cross, Lenoir County Historical Association and the Lenoir County Democratic Party where she served as a successful campaign manager for numerous local, regional and state political candidates. She was a most valuable member of the committee that organized Kinston's successful campaign to be an All-American City.

In her personal life, she loved getting together with her "Lunch Bunch" crew and volunteering her time at Kinston High School and the Airport theater to assist with Moppets, Ovation, school plays and local pageants. Being a backstage Mom to many was one of her favorite roles. She also spent 8 years as concessions manager at the local Kinston Indians Ballpark where she was a boss to many and made sure all spectators were well-fed and cared for.

Rita is survived by her sisters Susan Phelps of Windsor, NC and Janie (Steve) Creech of Minnesott Beach, NC; Son Brian (Heidi) Jones of Kinston, NC and daughters Shannon Bragg (John Lane) of Palm Beach Gardens, FL and Stacy (Brad) Montague of Cary, NC; grandchildren Hunter and Hailey Weeks, Logan and Morgan Bragg and Halle and Emmy Montague.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Emerald Isle with the date to be determined at a later time.