Mrs. Catherine Rea “Kitty” Arritt Fitzgerald, age 91, of Covington, died Sunday, December 18, 2011, at Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Roanoke.  She was the wife of the late Arlie Carl Arritt and Lemuel Woodrow Fitzgerald, Sr.

                Mrs. Fitzgerald was born May 26, 1920 in Covington, the daughter of the late Clarence Rea and Maude Quate Rea.  She did not work outside the home but served on numerous boards, did volunteer work and was dedicated to the YMCA.  She was a member of Granbery Memorial United Methodist Church and was active in her church.  In her never ending quest to learn, she received an Associate Degree from Dabney S. Lancaster Community College in her mid 50’s. Kitty lived her entire life in Covington and loved the history that meant so much to the community.  She was very involved and volunteered frequently at the Historical Society.  Kitty researched and wrote numerous features for them including an oral history for the WWII memorial.  She was active in her garden club and was a master judge for flower shows.  One of her most exciting accomplishments was being a score keeper for the Ryder Cup at the Greenbrier and her predicting the final close on the NYSE which won her a trip to New York City where she was featured on Lou Dobbs Moneyline.  At the age of 90, she swam, played golf and loved to travel especially to the Homestead or Greenbrier and Scotland.

                Mrs. Fitzgerald is survived by two grandsons, James Arritt and wife, Monique and Matt Arritt and wife, Amy; three great grandchildren; one daughter-in-law, Callie Gaye Arritt; one niece, Ann Honeycutt McMullan; and three nephews, Steven Rea Honeycutt, Mark Arritt and Brent Arritt.

                Mrs. Fitzgerald was preceded in death by her son, James Arritt who died in 1998; five siblings, Arthur Rea, Lawrence Rea, Virginia Rea Rhodes, Clarence P. Rea, Jr. and Peggy Rea Honeycutt.

                A funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, December 22, 2011, at Granbery Memorial United Methodist Church with the Rev. Barry Throckmorton officiating.  Interment will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery.  Granbery Memorial United Methodist Church will host a reception after the interment.

                The family will receive friends on Wednesday evening from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. at Granbery Memorial United Methodist Church.

                Memorial tributes may be made to the Alleghany Historical Society, P.O. Box 384, Covington, VA 24426, Alleghany Highlands YMCA, 101 YMCA Way, Covington, VA 24426, Covington Christmas Mother Fund, P.O. Box 242, Covington, VA 24426 or the Alzheimer’s Society, 3959 Electric Road, Suite 357, Roanoke, VA 24018.

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