Rita Whittle Obituary

Rita C. Whittle passed away peacefully on June 8, 2022, at the age of 98. Born in Birmingham, Ala., in 1924 to Ellis and Ruth Cockrell, she spent her youth in Macon, Miss., and Shreveport, La. Rita later moved to Memphis to pursue her education and there she met and married a young medical student, Herbert P. Whittle Jr. Shortly thereafter, Rita and Herb moved to Knoxville and supported each other through the rigors of a medical internship and residency. Upon completion of a pediatric residency, Rita and Herb moved to Etowah, where they resided for over 40 years, raised their three children and left a lasting legacy on their community. As much as they enjoyed living in the foothills of their beloved Smoky Mountains, they wanted and needed to be closer to family in their later years. They lived in Tellico Village for many years and ultimately moved to a retirement facility in Maryville. Rita was truly a lady of unique beauty and dignity. She owned a "proper" southern style, grace, and an unfailing eye for detail … a talent that was simply woven into her DNA. Her home design skills surpassed those of most architects, and her decorating was worthy of any magazine's feature article. She relished special occasions and holidays with her children and grandchildren, and if you go in any of their homes, you will see Rita's influence. When not focused on home and family, Rita and Herb loved to spend time in the mountains, their cottage on Spring Creek near the Hiwassee River, The Lodge at Buckberry in Gatlinburg, and the Old Edwards Inn in Highlands, N.C. Rita enjoyed a long, full and exemplary life and her magic will forever be remembered by family and friends. Rita was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Dr. Herbert P. Whittle Jr; parents, Ellis and Ruth Cockrell; her brothers, Bill and Sonny; brother-in-law, Dr. Bob Whittle; and son-in-law, Dr. Pat Ellington. She is survived by her children, daughter, Karen Ellington of Ft. Myers, Fla., son, Herbert Christopher Whittle of Sharon, Conn., and daughter and son-in-law, Camille and Bob Hanggi of Lenoir City. Also surviving are grandson, Dr. Matthew Hanggi and wife, Jill, of Knoxville; granddaughter, Sarah Kennedy and husband, Charles, of Roswell, Ga.; granddaughters, Andrea Leigh Whittle and Sasha Marie Whittle of New York; and four great-grandchildren, Sam and Avery Hanggi of Knoxville, and Gray and Portia Kennedy of Roswell, Ga. The family will have a private celebration of Rita's life. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of a donation to Friends of The Smokies, P.O. Box 1660, Kodak, TN 37764, www.friendsofthesmokies.org, in memory of Rita Whittle. Online condolences may be offered at www.clickfh.com in the "Obituaries/Tribute Wall." Click Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.