Miss_Rita-Lake_Highlands_HS

Miss Rita was proud of her reserved parking space

One of the most beloved figures ever to set foot on the campus of Lake Highlands High School has died. Marietta Walker Greenfield, “Miss Rita” to generations of LH students, parents, and faculty, passed away Friday night at the age of 93.

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Known to many as the “Voice of Lake Highlands,” Miss Rita coveted her job as the school’s receptionist since it gave her the chance to interact with virtually everyone in the neighborhood. She retired in 2009.

Dr. Bob Iden, former LHHS principal, worked closely with Rita and has continued to visit her regularly.

“Rita is one of the true icons of our community, an angelic personage who, with just the manner in which she answered the main phone line at LHHS for over 40 years, projected the friendly, welcoming, and caring spirit of Lake Highlands. 1 Corinthians 16:14 tells us ‘Let all that you do be done in love’ – this was the credo that guided Rita Greenfield’s life, and the legacy that she leaves for us to emulate.”

Miss Rita and Dr. Bob

Miss Rita and Dr. Bob

Karen Clardy, longtime executive assistant to the principal, agrees.

“Rita was full of life, laughter and love for the community,” said Karen. “She was thrilled when she was given her own parking space, and last year I took her the sign and she displayed it proudly in her room at C.C. Young.”

“She had a little file box she kept for years with everyone in the community’s name, address and season football ticket location. [She handled season ticket sales for many years.] She knew everyone and made you feel that you were so special.”

“Rita loved the PTA appreciation luncheons and would always be the first in line,” Karen continued.

Yes, well. About that.

In May of 2006, our Miss Rita made the national news. She thought some friendly neighborhood do-gooder had delivered muffins to the teacher’s lounge. Happened all the time. So she ate one. And then a couple more. Before long she couldn’t feel her face. Then she got the giggles. You probably know the rest – the muffins were laced with marijuana. The two high school senior boys who planned it called it a stupid prank, but 19 teachers were transported to Presbyterian Hospital and the FBI was called in. Only Miss Rita stayed overnight at the hospital, and she could have been in serious danger. Instead of anger, she exhibited kindness and forgiveness to the boys and their families.

Rita was born in Jamaica, Iowa on December 16, 1919 to Charles and Elizabeth Walker, and she was married 52 years to the late Don Greenfield. She is survived by her only child, Carla Fulton, and Carla’s husband, James. Among many accolades, Rita earned the Exchange Club’s Unsung Hero Award in 2004 and was presented the Heart of Gold Award by LHHS faculty.

“I have so many wonderful memories and lessons taught from this amazing lady,” said Joan Walne, former LHHS parent, past president of Lake Highlands Women’s League and former chairman of the Dallas Park Board. “First of all, never grow old. Rita could run circles around most of us. She was ahead of her time in having and career, and worked well into her eighties. Every principal who came to Lake Highlands knew she was untouchable and soon realized she was their best ambassador.”

“She truly was the voice of LH, as she lovingly called herself, but I think that she was the heart of LH. She and her dear friend Ruth Montgomery never missed a game, performance, concert – you name it. They were there front and center. The high school was her life and brought her such joy, but she in turn in her own special way returned that joy tenfold to all she came across. You couldn’t help but laugh just knowing her.”

“In talking with my children [Robert Walne and Sarah Walne Hefton], they remember how funny the announcements were. She started with ‘Good morning, this is Rita Greenfield, the voice of Lake Highlands.’ After giving the announcements, she signed off with ‘Bye, bye, I love you.’ She really was the heart of our great school and was such a fun girl.”

Advocate Magazine did two feature articles on Miss Rita: this one about the muffins and this one about her retirement.

Visitation will be at Restland Funeral Home Monday, November 25 from 6 to 8 p.m. and services will be at Restland’s Memorial Chapel Tuesday at 12 noon. A reception will follow in the LHHS auditorium foyer.