Individual Details

Death

Juanita “Nita” Jenkins Ortega, 90, daughter of Russell and Annie (Bowers) Furr, was born on her father’s birthday, June 14, 1925, and passed away to Heaven on May 5, 2016, in Redwood, California. At her request, she was cremated, and there was no service held. She left behind two daughters, Donna (Jenkins) Lam and husband, Hershall Jr., of McGahesyville, Va., and Diana (Jenkins) Hisey and husband, Robert (Bob), of Mount View, Calif. Mrs. Ortega (then Jenkins), her husband and daughter, Donna, moved from Dayton, Virginia, to Elkton in 1950 and raised their two daughters there. Nita had various jobs in Virginia and California, but had worked at Reynolds Metals in Grottoes for 14 years. In 1975, Nita moved to California after her husband and girls’ father Eldridge’s sudden death in 1973. Eldrige had worked at Merck & Co. until his death at 50 years old. Nita met and married her second husband, Octavio Ortega (Tibby) in 1978 in California. She was predeceased by both husbands and 8-month-old daughter, June Lee. Nita never met a stranger, lived life to the fullest and never acted her age of 90. She loved her family, which included four grandchildren, Damon, Eric and David Lam and Denise Kolar; six great-grandchildren; and many loving nieces and nephews. She will be greatly missed. A celebration of life service will be held in McGaheysville, Va., at a later time.
Daily News Record Obituary, May 18, 2016