Rita Hope Underwood

Rita Hope Daniels Underwood, 98, of Shady Spring died Tuesday, January 27, 2026, after a long illness, in Charleston, WV.

Born April 10, 1927, at Lockbridge, WV, she was the daughter of the late Violet Brooks and Winfred M. Daniels.

Mrs. Underwood graduated from Trap Hill High School and upon graduation went to Washington D.C where she worked for the FBI during WW II.  She returned home where she met and married her husband.  They were married 51 years before his passing in 1999.

Mrs. Underwood worked for Beckley Newspapers and Theatre of West Virginia in the accounting department for 25 years.Upon leaving that position she worked with her husband at Underwood Lumber Company until their retirement.

Mrs. Underwood was a founding member of the Shady Spring District Garden Club. She was a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church, Shady Shady Spring, WV. She was also a former member of the Shady Spring District Women's Club. Mrs. Underwood previously served with her husband for Gideon's International and had served on the Habitat for Humanity board.  She was a member of the Captain James Allen Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. History and genealogy were two of her favorite pastimes.

She was preceded in death by her husband, W.E.(Bill Underwood), a daughter Rita Sue Underwood, two sisters, Maud Moye and Joan Sweeney both of Beckley and one brother, Nathan Daniels of Daniels.  She is survived by her two daughters, Vickie Hensley (Edward) of Charleston and Coleen (Jerry) Redden of Elkins; four granddaughters Elizabeth (Shelby) Hensley of Goleta, CA, Katherine Hensley of Albany, OR, Deborah Redden of Morgantown and Sarah Redden; and one great grandson. She is also survived by her closest nephews, Danny ( Marian) Moye of Glade Springs, Nathan (Crystal) Daniels of Shady Spring and Mike (Billie) Sweeney of Lady Lake, FL;  and other friends and family.

A special thank you to the memory care staff at Harmony at Southridge, the staff at Clark's Christian Care and Kanawha Hospice Care.

A Celebration of Life will be held  Saturday, April 25, 2026 from 12 PM until 2 PM at Black Knight Municipal Park, 2400 South Kanawha Street, Beckley, WV.

The family request any memorial donations be made to Kanawha Hospice Care, 1001 Curtis Price Way, Charleston WV 25311.

Private online condolences and other expressions of sympathy may be directed to the family via our guestbook at www.roseandquesenberry.net.

Arrangements are by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, 729 Flat Top Road, Shady Spring, WV.