Rita Cox

Rita Glover

86, of Fayetteville, died April 4, 2007, at Washington Regional Medical Center.

She was born Aug. 17, 1920 to Robert Benjamin and Myrtle Bell (Van Winkle) Cox in Springdale.

She was a graduate of Prairie Grove High School and was involved throughout her lifetime in education and courses at the University of Arkansas.

Survivors include her son, Van Brewer of Prairie Grove; two granddaughters, Vanessa and Valerie Brewer of Fayetteville; one brother, Van Robert "Jack" Cox of Oklahoma City; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene "Gene" Glover and two brothers, Troy Cox and George Cox. The family would like to extend special thanks to four of her many dear friends, Audrey Bernath, Rebecca Garner, Pat Gideon and Gay Harp.

During her lifetime, she was actively engaged in many clubs and organizations that benefited the community and helped serve as a leader in all ways. She was also an astute and highly recognized businesswoman, landowner, entrepreneur and philanthropist. She was an avid golfer, bridge player and Razorback fan. She was a devout member of First Christian Church and served in all capacities throughout the years.

In her early years, she started a beauty salon in Fayetteville and soon owned three other salons across the state. She flew her private airplane in order to manage these salons in a timely fashion. The largest of the three salons was above the former Boston Store in the downtown Fayetteville Square, where she originally employed and trained 13 beauticians. This went so well that she opened and managed the first beauty school in Northwest Arkansas, Rita's Hair Design Institute, which operated for many years. In 2006 at the National Cosmetology Association convention in Chicago, she was awarded the "Hair America Ladies Fifty Years of Valuable Service Award."

One of her favorite community service clubs was Altrusa International Club of Fayetteville, where her membership began in 1952. She served as President from 1971-73. In 1959, she helped initiate a project to provide dental care to underprivileged children. She donated part of her office space to begin the clinic. The project grew and went on to receive national recognition, winning Altrusa's Mamie L. Bass International Award in 1967. She remained active with the club and devoted many volunteer hours in the extensive Altrusa programs to provide literacy, scholarships and benefits to the community through fundraisers and leadership.

She was also instrumental in beginning Fayetteville's Community Emergency Outreach, the collaborative effort of community churches to provide assistance to help people in time of crisis. She was also a member of NWA Investment Club, NWA Doll Club, Official Hair Fashion and Cosmetology Association, University Women's Club and the University of Arkansas Alumni Association.

She resided at Butterfield Trail Village for many years and served as President of the Residents' Council and was instrumental in forming the history committee, which gathered information on the 20 years of Butterfield Trails' existence, which is now in book form and soon to be published. She also served as chair on the Health Care Center Committee.

She was a member of the Eastern Star University City Chapter 495 since 1985.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the First Christian Church, 220 N. College Avenue in Fayetteville (next to the Washington County Courthouse) with Reverend Ryan H. Pfeiffer officiating. Private burial services will be held at Prairie Grove Cemetery in Prairie Grove.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Fayetteville First Christian Church, 220 N. College Avenue, Fayetteville, AR 72702, the Altrusa Club of Fayetteville Foundation, P.O. Box 251, Fayetteville, AR 72702, or to the Community Emergency Outreach, 419 Rock Street, Fayetteville, AR 72701. Arrangements are under the direction of Nelson-Berna Funeral Home and Crematory of Fayetteville, www.nelsonberna.com.