Rita E. Brown Maxwell, 73, of Malta, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016 at her residence. She was born on January 6, 1943 in Zanesville, Ohio to the late John and Wanda Ashton Brown. She was a homemaker and raised 15 children. She was a member of the St. Rose Catholic Church in New Lexington. She is survived by her husband, Duane I. Maxwell of the home, 5 sons, Jason Maxwell of Cal., Ed Masterson of Malta, John Maxwell of Minneapolis, Dr. Donald Maxwell of Phoenix and David Maxwell of Arizona, 3 daughters, Kathy Woodrum of Westerville, Susan Maxwell of Cambridge and Margaret Maxwell of McArthur, 2 brothers, David Brown of Orrville and Don Richardson of Alabama and several grand and great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, 4 sons, Bernard, Stephen, Darren and Jeffery Maxwell and 3 daughters, Katherine Weaver, Anne Maxwell and Elizabeth Dorris. Graveside services will be held on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016 at 1:30 P.M. at the Maxwell family farm cemetery.