Rita Jane Keaton Pack
It’s with profound sadness the family announces the passing of a beautiful lady, inside and out, Rita Jane Keaton Pack.
Rita, 75, of Pipestem and Bellepoint, went home to be with Jesus Christ, her Lord, on June 27, 2025.
She was born on August 19, 1949, to a WWII veteran, Charles Russell Keaton, and a Rosie the Riveter, Dorothy Jewell Worrell Keaton of Pipestem. Rita enjoyed a farm life upbringing, where integrity, hard work, and honesty were an everyday part of life. Her family was active in Cooks Chapel Church at Pipestem, where she accepted Christ as her Savior at an early age. She also sang in a trio with her sister, Martha. She patterned her walk with God and the belief in healing from her grandfather, Rev. George Worrell.
She graduated from Hinton High School in 1967 and was selected Miss Bobcat her senior year, where she also met and married her high school sweetheart, Steve. She and Steve were featured on the grand opening brochure for Pipestem State Park in 1970. Rita wondered how they got selected; Steve said it was because she was gorgeous. Rita loved working with the reunion committee organizing her high school class reunions. Rita graduated from Concord College in 1970 and received her Masters degree from WV College of Graduate Studies. She enjoyed 35 years of teaching at Hinton High School and Princeton Sr. High School, where she retired.
During her years at Hinton High, she started the Bible Club and freely gave up her lunch time to minister to the kids that attended. She was also active in organizing the Jubilee. She helped start and organize the first AWANA club in Summers Co. at Bellepoint Baptist Church and served in AWANA for 25 years. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Hinton, a lifetime member of the Summers County Historical Society, a member of the Hinton Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary, and was the organizer of the annual Old Log Church Reunion at River Ridge, Pipestem.
Rita opened her house to all of her children’s friends, providing food, games, and fellowship.
She loved Jesus more than anything, and He was her best friend. All of her decisions in life were weighed on how to glorify Jesus. She was a true prayer warrior, and countless people reached out to her for prayer. Rita constantly sacrificed for her family, neighbors, students, and strangers. She was selfless and practiced random acts of kindness wherever she went, having a special place in her heart for the less fortunate. She’s remembered by many for her wisdom, love, kindness, and generosity. Rita was bold about her faith and longed for others to know the love of her Lord. Rita loved and honored her parents, taking care of them in their old age. She never lost faith, contending for her healing until she saw Jesus.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Dorothy Keaton.
She is survived by her loving husband of 55 years, Steve Pack; and their children, Sharon Pack (Los Angeles, CA), Valerie Pack (Waynesboro, VA), Ron Pack (Alexandria, VA), and Rachel Sack, husband, Josh (Greenville, SC); and her granddaughters, Aleah, Keatley, Naomi, and Isabel. Other survivors include her siblings, Martha Baker and Dave (Beckley, WV), Lonnie Keaton and Florence (Pipestem, WV), and Mary Wills and her son, Jeremy Wills (True, WV).
Celebration of Life will be held at the First Baptist Church at 108 Temple St. in Hinton, WV at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 2, 2025. Visitation with the family will be prior to the service from 12 to 2 p.m. Her private entombment will be at The Greenbrier Burial Park Mausoleum. A live stream of the memorial service can be viewed at First Baptist Church of Hinton, WV’s Facebook page.
The three crosses on Zion Mountain have been lit for Rita, this week, to remember the positive impact she had for our Lord and the community of Hinton.
Online condolences can be given at www.pivontfuneralhome.com.
Submitted by Pivont Funeral Home, Hinton, WV.
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