Rita Sandford, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, cousin, aunt, and friend died on July 6, at Loma Linda University Hospital in California. She had been given a second chance at life five years earlier on July 17 when UCLA Lung Transplant Center gave her a lung in 2004. She was the oldest living lung transplant recipient at that time. Rita was their “Miracle Girl” who blazed the trail for others to receive such gifts in their ’70s.

Rita was born Feb. 2, 1932 in Sainte-Genevieve, Quebec and married Harvey Sandford on April 14, 1956 in Montreal, Quebec. They were married for 53 years. The couple moved from Canada to Hacienda Heights, Calif., in 1958. They became United States citizens, and she gave birth to three children; Richard Sandford, Robert Sandford, and Suzanne (Sandford) Hanson. After moving to Ontario, Calif., in 1979 she added an extra son, Robert Choske, and in 1992 a son-in-law, Gary Hanson. Rita is survived by her husband Harvey, of Lake Havasu City, and their children and grandchildren, of Southern California.

Rita spent many years in the Kappa Phi Sigma Sorority, holding all offices and titles including president and Woman of the Year. She cooked for St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Hacienda Heights and was in charge of the Alter Guild. She held many financial and banking titles working both in Canada and Ontario, Calif., for 27 years but her favorite titles were wife and mother.

Retiring in 1988 to Trinity, Calif., Rita and Harvey traveled the country volunteering in wildlife preservation. They moved to Lake Havasu City in 1994, and Rita became active with Harvey in the Shrine programs of Clothe a Child, Shrine hospitals and the onions. She enjoyed the activities and friendships in the Elkettes. She loved to go camping with the London Bridge Elks RV Club, loved cooking, music, dancing, shopping, bunco and supporting others especially the “underdog”.

Rita Sandford was a remarkable woman and is sorely missed as she dances her way around heaven. As she was an active member of the Lake Havasu Elkettes, they will be hosting as Elkettes Lodge of Sorrow for Rita on Saturday at 11 a.m.