Rita C. Banning

Rita C. Banning, 94, of Union Township, died 4/24/2023 at her home in Douglassville, PA.

Born in Pottstown on December 5, 1928, she was the daughter of the late Oliver and Rita Conger. She attended the Wyndcroft School in Pottstown and the Baldwin School in Philadelphia. After she received her BS from Ursinus College, she taught Latin at Methacton and then at the Abington Friends School for many years. She served as a Democratic Committeewoman in Worcester Township and on the Democratic State Committee. After becoming involved with political campaigns, she went on to study law and received her law degree from Villanova University. 

She was the first woman elected as County Commissioner in Montgomery County, PA and served in the role of minority commissioner for twelve years. She fought for what she believed was right and used the office as a watchdog position. The causes she supported included the environment, children and youth, workers rights and government transparency. She was instrumental in establishing a county health department. Upon completion of her terms as county commissioner, she moved to Berks County to be near family. She became active with the Birdsboro Library, French and Pickering Creek Trust and the Berks Democrats.

She is predeceased by a brother, Oliver Carrington Conger, Jr. and is survived by her daughters, Barbara Banning, of Sedona, AZ and Karen Mininger, of Douglassville, PA and her grandchildren and great grandchildren. 

Services will be private and at the convenience of the family. 

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