Zita Marie Billings

Zita Marie Billings, 90, of Kansas City, passed away Friday, November 6, 2015, at Liberty Hospital in Liberty, Missouri. She was born December 29, 1924, in Mederville, Iowa, the daughter of the late Glenn and Gertrude (Starr) Olinger. Zita was a 1942 graduate of Strawberry Point High School. Zita received her Bachelors degree in Pre-Medicine and her Masters degree in Dietetics from the University of Iowa. She was united in marriage in 1948 to Charles H. Billings who preceded her in death in 1997. Zita was an only-child raised on a family farm in northeast Iowa. After graduation from college and marriage, she moved with her husband Charles to Kansas City. During the Korean War, there was a three year period where they lived in Alexandria, Virginia. The family moved back to Kansas City in 1955, and she resided there for the remainder of her life. Zita supported the family as a stay-at-home mother and wife. When Charles retired, they enjoyed travel throughout Europe, Asia, Oceania and North Africa. After her husband passed away in 1997, Zita continued to remain active up through late this year by maintaining her house and yard as well as walking to the store for groceries as she did not drive a car. Zita was especially supportive of her granddaughter, Becky, and enjoyed watching Becky mature from an infant to an adult. Survivors include her son, Steven Billings, Jefferson City; and her granddaughter, Rebecca "Becky" Billings, Columbia. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband. Visitation will be 4-6 p.m. Thursday, November 12, 2015, at Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home. Graveside services will be 1 p.m. Monday, November 16, 2015, at Grandview Cemetery in Fayette, Iowa. Memorials are suggested to a charity of the donor's choice. Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Those wishing to email tributes or condolences to the family may do so at the www.dulletrimble.com website.