Family Honors 'Loving' 84-Year-Old Mother Found Dead at Home as 80-Year-Old Man is Arrested

MOVING tributes have been paid to a “loving mum” after a man, 80, was arrested on suspicion of murder.

Cops discovered Rita Rowley, 84, deceased in her home address in Whitchurch, Shropshire, last month.

Police and forensics on the scene in Whitchurch, Shropshire on January 27Credit: SWNS Moving tributes have been paid to Rita Rowley after she was found dead in her home on January 27Credit: SWNS

An 80-year-old man was found at the property with life-threatening injuries.

The force have confirmed they arrested him on suspicion of murder.

He remains in hospital in a critical condition.

Officers are not looking for anyone else in connection with Rita’s death on January 27.

West Mercia Police say they believe it to be an “isolated incident”.

Rita’s children said their mother, who married their late father Colin in Malta while he was in the , always worked hard and “loved to help people”.

Rita gave her time to an Age UK centre in Whitchurch for more than 20 years.

She also volunteered to drive people to appointments.

A heart-breaking statement, issued via , said: “We would like to pay tribute to our loving mum Rita, she with our late father Colin raised us to be caring and kind.

“During her life, she wanted to lead her own life and to be independent. She met and married our father in Malta whilst he was serving in the RAF.

“Mum bravely moved to a different country leaving her family back home in Malta.

“Mum worked hard as a seamstress and had a great love of fashion; she was always a smartly dressed woman.

Police and forensics on the scene in Whitchurch, ShrophireCredit: SWNS A man, 80, has been arrested on suspicion of murderCredit: SWNS

“Mum and Dad had a great love of travel and loved to meet new people, even after our father’s death, mum continue to travel solo or with friends both in this country and abroad, especially to her beloved Malta.

“Mum loved music and dancing and had a special love for and Johnny Mattis.

“She would always have music on in her home, that said she loved modern music too.

“Mum loved gardens and flowers. When she first moved to Higher Heath, she cultivated a vegetable patch and set out her own flower garden.

“She was an exceptional woman, and very successful with propagating from cuttings and seeds and would happily share these with others.

“Mum took great pleasure in visiting other gardens as well for inspiration and admiration.

“Mum had a love for all animals; she would always feed the stray cats, and they would wait for her to do so.

“Mum also loved garden , the number of bird cages in her garden is a testament to that. She would feed them several times a day with her favourite Robin dropping in to the back door and waiting to be fed.

“Mum had an enduring Catholic faith and this along with their friendly personality gave her a great sense of community.

“She loved to help people and volunteered for over 20 years at the Age UK day care centre in Whitchurch.

“Mum also volunteered time to drive people to appointments, she would take them shopping or do it for them and help them with their household tasks.

“Mum always worked hard throughout her life; she was always there for us and encouraged and supported us to do well.

“We will greatly miss her, even though her Alzheimer’s was affecting her confidence and sociability she was still bright and engaging. At this time, we would like our privacy to be respected.”

Detective Inspector Joanne Delahay, of West Mercia Police, said they believe it to be an “isolated incident”.

She said previously: “Firstly, our thoughts and condolences are with the family and loved ones of the woman who sadly lost her life.

“We understand an incident of this nature may be concerning for the local community, but we would like to offer some reassurance that we believe this to be an isolated incident with no wider risk to the public.”