Rita Hendershot Kling

Rita Hendershot Kling, 53, passed away late Sunday night after a long battle with cancer. Born in Mt. Edgecumbe, Alaska, baby Rita moved to Portage, MI. She graduated from Portage Northern H.S. and Michigan State University with a double degree in Sociology and Psychology. She gained teaching certificates in California and Michigan. In 2012, she earned a Masters in Social Work. Her career in social work involved caring for the dying and counseling troubled teens. Rita is proceeded in death by her loving mother Arlene Hendershot and is survived by her husband Rodney, son Wesley, father Hugh Hendershot, sister Marla Reed, brother Alan Hendershot, nieces, nephews and many friends. Memorial Services will be held at 2PM, Sunday November 23, 2014 at People's Church 1758 North 10th St. Kalamazoo, MI. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the West Michigan Cancer Center; Hospice Care of Southwest MI; The Wesley Kling Educational Fund c/o Old National Bank 3201 Portage Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49001 or a charity of your choice . Rita loved people. She had a beautiful and rare ability to make people feel welcome and cared for. If you were her friend it was for life. Rita was generous in spirit and unwavering in her desire to help others.