Ms. Rita Ann Billett

May 20, 1928 - November 30, 2021

Rita Ann Billett, 93, was born on May 20, 1928, and departed this earth on November 30, 2021. Born in Columbus, Ohio, Rita was the fourth of seven children born to the late Walter and Anna Marie Lombard Harper. She was raised in a loving Catholic household and grew up attending Catholic school. After high school, Rita worked hard waitressing so she could attend school and pursue her dream of a college education. Rita fulfilled her dream by graduating from The Ohio State University with a degree in Dental Hygiene in 1951. While at The Ohio State University she met the love of her life, The Honorable Donald F. Billett. She worked as a Dental Hygienist in Youngstown, Ohio, with her late brother-in-law, Dr. Anthony (Doc) Billett. She left the profession in support of her husband's career and moved from Ohio to New Jersey, to Virginia, to Illinois, before setting permanent roots in Columbia, SC. Rita was a loving mother and grandmother of 4 children and 3 grandchildren, a devoted daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. She was a fashionable woman who modeled the latest fashion lines at a local retailer each season, belonged to the Newcomers Club, a club for new residences of Columbia, the Red Hat Society, and the Gourmet Group. An active woman, she bowled weekly in and organized bowling league and regularly golfed with her husband and friends at Columbia Country Club. She took great pride in taking care of her family, cooking, and teaching her children to cook and garden. She will be greatly missed. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Billett; brothers, Walter (Bud) Harper, William Harper, Joseph Harper; and her sister, Alice Dorr. Survivors include her children, Diane Billett, Denise Justis, her husband, Dr. Chris Justis, Don Billett, his fiance, Lori Ehlers, and Tom Billett; her grandchildren, Nicholas Mills, his wife, Erina, Christopher Mills, his partner, Jessie Davis, and Annaka Ehlers; as well as her sisters, Patricia Murnane and Nancy Rockwell. A funeral service for Mrs. Billett will be held 12:30 o'clock, Monday, December 13, 2021, at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel. Burial will follow at Ft. Jackson National Cemetery. All are welcome to attend, however, masks and practices for social distancing are strongly encouraged.