Rita Miller White Ellis, 78, of Edenton, NC passed away peacefully at her residence on Thursday, October 15, 2026.

Rita was born in Bertie County, NC on September 28, 1948 and was the daughter of Rufus Gaston White and Bertha Miller White, both deceased. She was the wife of 51 years to the late Robert Wayne "Bob" Ellis.

Survivors include her sisters, Kay Bunch and husband, Earl, and Sunny Saunders; brother, Randy White and wife, Joyce; cousin,Janice Pratt and husband, Joe; and nieces and nephews, Lisa Shaw, Missie Bunch, Johnny Perry, Sheila May, Mark Saunders, Brett Saunders, Will White, Kate Nelson, Megan Jones, and Pam Leary.

Funeral services celebrating Rita’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 18, 2026 at the Miller & Van Essendelft Funeral Home Chapel, Edenton, NC with Pastor Buck Leary officiating. Interment will follow in Beaver Hill Cemetery, Edenton, NC. The family will greet friends at the funeral home from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Sunday prior to the service in the chapel.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the PKD Foundation for the research of polycystic kidney disease at pkdcure.org

Miller & Van Essendelft Funeral Home, 735 Virginia Road, Edenton, NC is assisting the Ellis family with arrangements and online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com