Reita Charlene (Corder) Fittro

Reita Charlene Fittro, age 91, of Columbus, passed peacefully on Thursday, January 30, 2025.

She was born on May 20, 1933, to Charles and Marguerite Corder. She joined two older sisters, Ramona and Eugenea; their youngest sister, Treasure, was born three years later.

Charlene graduated from Jefferson high School at Dresden in 1951, attended Denison University for two years, and transferred to OSU in 1953. While at OSU, she was one of 12 University Singers, sang in the Women’s Glee Club and in the Symphonic Choir. In 1944, she graduated with a BS in Music Education. The summer of her graduation, Charlene traveled with the OSU Symphonic Choir to Germany, England, France, Holland and Wales as Goodwill Ambassadors. While in Wales, they brought home a second place in the Youth Division of the world-wide music competition, The Eisteddfod.

In 1954, Charlene married Roger Bernard and the couple had four children: Stephanie (Dr. Raymond Lev), Stacie (Dr. Randall Shively), Russell (Linda), and Charles (Tracey). In 1975, she received a master’s degree in K-3 education from Miami University. Roger and Charlene divorced in 1978.

She married Bob Fittro in 1984 and retired from teaching, after 31 years, in 1988. Charlene wrote a story and song about seatbelt safety, which she shared with nursery schools and kindergartens in both Clinton and Fayette counties. For ten years, she was Arts and Crafts Director for Camp Dovetail, a camp for special needs children. Charlene wrote three Christmas Cantatas and many sacred and children’s songs, in which her friend, Ellen Gilbert, wrote accompaniments. She was privileged to have all three of her Cantatas performed with a local choir and soloists, which were directed by Judy Sargent. Charlene, with Ellen’s accompaniment, won the Sacred Music Division of the Ohio Chautauqua Music Competition. When Charlene and her husband, Bob, moved to Willow Brook, she directed five musical programs.

She and Bob, who preceded her in death, had five grandchildren: Matthew Bernard, Lindsey (Ian) Hummel, Nicholas (Paschalia Nsato) Lev, Sidney Bernard and Luke Bernard. Also left to cherish her memory are four great grandchildren: Liam, Ella, Ava and Mia. She is preceded by two sisters, Romona and Eugenea.

Memorial contributions would be appreciated to Capital City Hospice.

Friends may call at Littleton Funeral Home, Sabina, on Thursday, February 6, 2025, from 1pm until 3pm, when a funeral will begin.  Burial will follow in Sabina Cemetery.