Fay Carolyn Ritea

June 12, 1940 - August 18, 2020

Fay Carolyn Ritea passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 18, 2020, in Aldie, VA. She was 80. Born in 1940 in Southfield, MI to Roy and Florence Wilcoxon, she would later relocate to Miami, FL and Sacramento, CA in her younger years, working a variety of jobs after high school. At one point, she was even fired from a waitressing job by her own mother, who managed a restaurant, for handing a customer toast rather than putting it on a plate. By 1967, she had moved to Los Angeles, CA with her younger sister, Patricia, where their mother was managing an apartment building. After her mother encouraged her to invite a young man downstairs studying at nearby UCLA to Christmas dinner, only to later learn he was Jewish, she and Howard Barry Ritea would get married shortly after. They had two children, Steven and David, living in Los Angeles and San Diego for many years. Fay, who went by Carol, would always stress the importance of positive thinking to her children and also encouraged her family to explore their community and participate in local events, some of which caused them to groan but many of which brought joy to her family. She worked as a real estate agent for much of the 1980s, helping families find new homes. In 1997, the family relocated to Ashburn, VA, where Carol lived the remainder of her years, including working at Leesburg Premium Outlets. Even after losing her husband to cancer in 2003, she remained highly active in the local community, participating in book clubs, civic groups, local classes and game nights with friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Barry Ritea; and two sisters, Joan and Patricia of Florida. She is survived by two sons, Steven of Los Angeles along with his wife Alisa, and David of Ashburn; as well as many nieces and nephews. Burial will be private at King David Memorial Gardens in Falls Church, VA and a memorial will follow at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Capital Caring Health Philanthropy, 3180 Fairview Park Drive, Headquarters/Suite 500, Falls Church, VA 22042.