Rita Light died Dec. 16, 2021, at age 71.

She received a bachelor of arts degree in English and journalism in 1971 and a master’s degree in counseling from IU. She was employed as a guidance counselor at an Elkhard middle school.

Light was a member of the Indiana Department of Education and Safe Schools Leadership Consortium. She was also a volunteer for the Elkhart Police Department, Substation 7, taught critical incident stress/listening skills workshops to the Elkhart Police Department and was a volunteer for the Center for Hospice Care in Elkhart. She spoke Italian, French, Russian, Spanish and English, was active in her community and received recognitions including the President’s Award from the FOP Lodge 52 and the 10 YCMA Women of Elkhart County.