Rita Ballinger

Rita Ballinger, 79, of Amarillo, passed away on July 8, 2025. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at Cox-Rowley Funeral Home Chapel, 4180 Canyon Drive, Amarillo, Texas 79109.

Rita was born on February 11, 1946, in Eussenheim, Germany to Karl and Petronella Lutz. After she finished school, she moved to Wurzburg to go to work. Dennis Ballinger, an American service man was stationed in Wurzburg. Soon after arriving there, he met Rita through another American service man who was dating her sister, Walburga. Eventually, these two men became brothers-in-law when they married the two sisters. Dennis and Rita got married on January 13, 1968, in Germany.

In March 1968, Dennis was discharged and they both moved to the United States. She became a U.S. citizen in November 1974 and made Texas her home. They were blessed with three children, Tim, Chris, & Ingrid.

Rita moved to Oklahoma in 1983. She later moved to Amarillo in 1994 and stayed there until her death. She was a member of Hillside Christian Church. She was known to be a hard worker. She had several jobs in her life but was mostly know as a waitress. She could run an entire restaurant by herself. She loved cooking, crocheting, sewing, and spending time with her grandkids, who she absolutely adored.

She survived breast cancer after her mastectomy, a heart attack, and battled kidney failure. She was spry and not much held her back in life. Rita was most known to be very authentic. No one ever had to wonder who she was or what she was thinking. She was a spitfire and full of life.

She is survived by her daughter, Ingrid Austin (Jackson) of Wilson, Texas; two sons, Tim Ballinger (Brooke) of Dumas, Texas, and Chris Ballinger of Houston, Texas; three grandsons, Tyler Gilbert, Sawyer Austin and Finn Austin; granddaughter, Katharina Barget; two sisters, Wally Boston (Gary) of Simi Valley, California, Sofie Heinickel of Germany, and; and her brother, Joseph Lutz of Munich, Germany and her most loyal and faithful companion, Halle.

She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Peter Barget; two brothers Willibald and Bruno; sister, Maria Pfeuffer; and an infant sister, Theresa, and a baby brother, Heinerich.

Rita will be remembered for her big personality, quick wit, and the love she shared with all who knew her.