A memorial mass for Rita Schembeck, 85, of Lompoc, will be celebrated 10 a.m. Friday, August 14, 2009 at La Purisima Catholic Church with Rev. Tom Cook officiating. Inurnment will follow at Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery.

Rita was born September 24, 1923 in New York, New York to Charles and Mary Smullen Schembeck.

After she earned her bachelors degree, Rita pursued a military career in nursing and received a commission in the United States Air Force. One of her many duty stations were in the Philippine Islands during the Korean War. She retired as a Major at Vandenberg Air Force Base after 20 years of service. She loved to travel and enjoyed volunteering her time with VIVA (Volunteers for Inter-Valley Animals) and belonged to the Retired Air Force Nurses Association.

She died Friday, July 31, 2009 at Lompoc Valley Medical Center.

Survivors include her longtime companion, Eileen Enright of Lompoc; sister, Monica Fisher of Lompoc; nephews, Doug Fisher of Santa Monica and John MacDougall of Ft. Riley, Kansas; close friends, Joan MacDougall of Henderson, Nevada and Jean Dorrian of Brentwood, New York; and many other devoted relatives. Her mother, Mary Schembeck, preceded her in death.

Memorial contributions may be made to VIVA, P.O. Box 896, Lompoc, 93438