Virginia Elizabeth Kita

Virginia Elizabeth “Beth” Kita passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 24, 2023 at 70 years old in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was surrounded by family and friends in her final hours. Beth was born on December 18, 1952, in Bethesda, Maryland to David Fetzer Swift and Alice Mercer Jones, who preceded her in death. She is survived by her three sons, Justin (Katharine Stover), David (Kelsi Morgan), and William, and her siblings Meg and David Swift. She was lovingly called “GaGa” by her two grandchildren, Celeste and Jack. Ever a competitor, Beth loved playing dominoes and Bunco with her friends. She also enjoyed going out for lunch and coffee with her group of “Divas.” She found joy in decorating and creating homemade arts and crafts, and her house was always perfectly dressed for each season and holiday. She loved to travel and would often speak fondly of trips to her favorite destination of Paris, France. Beth was a long-standing member of First Church in Owasso and cherished the members of her church’s Life Group. She was a dedicated volunteer in her community and regularly volunteered for the Branch15 organization even through the last months of her life. She was also a regular donor to the Special Olympics. Beth deeply valued education and derived great meaning from teaching others. She attended Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, Virginia, then went on to obtain her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in speech pathology from the University of Tulsa. Beth served as a speech pathologist at Owasso Public Schools for over three decades. During her career, she was named Barnes Elementary Teacher of the Year and was ultimately promoted to the role of District-Wide Coordinator of Elementary Special Education. She worked tirelessly to serve the many students she taught, and it always brought her joy to see her former students out and about in Owasso. Beth will be deeply missed by her family and friends for her humor, her kindness, and her unwavering love for others. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 21 at 10am at First Church in Owasso. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Owasso Special Olympics team. Checks can be made payable to Owasso Special Athletes Fund and can be mailed to the District Coordinator and Head Coach of the Owasso Special Olympics team: Susan St. John Owasso 7th Grade Center 1400 S Main Owasso, OK 74055

Virginia Elizabeth Kita

December 18, 1952 - September 24, 2023