Obituary of Ryta Ledora Piper

Ryta L. Piper, 92, longtime resident of Iowa City, passed away Saturday, February 17, 2024.

A gathering for family and friends will be held from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City, with a memorial service to begin at 5:30 p.m. Private family graveside service will take place at Oak Hill Cemetery in Coralville. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established in Ryta’s memory.

Ryta L. Shelton was born February 5, 1932, in Greeneville, Tennessee; daughter of Cloyce and Mary (McAmis) Shelton. On April 9, 1950, she married Fred Piper in Corydon, Iowa.

Ryta was a loving, caring mother whose children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, meant the world to her. She was a fabulous cook, and her family has very fond memories of meals she prepared for them throughout the years. In her free time, Ryta loved to play bingo. She also spent time tending to her flowers, which always brought her joy.

Her family includes her daughter, Pam (Glenn) Hinkhouse of West Branch; sons, Steven Piper of Orchard, WA and Gary (Paula) Piper of Iowa City; daughter-in-law, Brenda Piper of Iowa City; 6 grandchildren, Erin Piper, Jennifer (Piper) Renk, Kelly (Hinkhouse) Potthoff, Ashley (Piper) Corpman, Kyle Piper and Lucas Piper; 6 great-grandchildren, Isabella, Landon, Carrigan, and Piper Renk and Julian and Brooklyn Potthoff, as well as extended family members.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Piper Jr.; by her parents; by her son, Gregory Piper; and by her siblings, Hilda Jones and Darrell Shelton.