Ina Rhea Whitehill was born on June 11, 1945, in Shenandoah, Iowa, the daughter of Charles "Guy" and Naomi Ellen (Masterson) Spencer. She passed away on May 3, 2023, at Homestead Assisted Living of Shenandoah.

Ina Rhea spent her entire life here in Shenandoah, IA. Ina Rhea grew up in what most would call the "west end of town." Ina Rhea spent many hours growing up and working at the family-owned business called Spencer's Sweet Shop which was downtown until they moved the business to be connected to their home. Ina Rhea enjoyed dancing and took tap dancing classes with her cousin Cindy. Ina Rhea grew up always around family. She attended Shenandoah Schools.

On March 19, 1972, she was united in marriage to Robert "Bob" Lee Whitehill in Tarkio, Missouri.

Ina Rhea worked at Benson's Grocery Store as a Produce Manager until she made the decision to attend beauty school in 1976-1978. Ina Rhea worked a few years for Marge Bartles until she moved uptown to Brodersen's Barber and Beauty Shop. Then, when Tom sold Brodersen's, Ina Rhea moved to the Hair Gallery for a few years until she retired. Ina Rhea was a very popular hair stylist in Shenandoah for many years. A lot of Karen's classmates would love to have Ina Rhea cut and perm their hair because Karen's hair was always "perfect." Ina Rhea was a beauty operator in Shenandoah for over 35 years.

Ina Rhea was a member of the Congregational Church, as well as a proud member of the spoiling the grandkids club and Kinlee's number one fan. Ina Rhea's favorite thing was to spoil her grandchildren, it didn't matter what the case was. Ina Rhea also loved to spend time with her daughter and to eat lots and lots of ice cream with her. Ina Rhea loved to take her grandchildren to the zoo every Monday during summer vacation. Ina Rhea also loved to travel on the motorcycle with her husband and friends all over the United States. Ina Rhea also had a MAJOR shopping problem, but her family would never say a word to her about it because she would tell us differently. She loved to go overboard on Christmas and not just decorations around the house that included 2 Christmas trees packed out to the middle of the rooms with presents for the grandkids. Ina Rhea loved to spend time with family no matter what the circumstances were. But when that great-grandbaby came she would make up every excuse in the book to make sure she could see her whenever was possible, that included lots of video chats and phone calls. Ina Rhea would also enjoy praying with her daughter every time she would come out to visit.

Ina Rhea was preceded in death by her husband Bob Whitehill , parents Naomi and Guy Spencer, mother and father- in- law Lee and Opal Whitehill, son Johnny Whitehill, son-in-law Patrick Stanbrough, favorite dogs Mikey and Jo Jo Whitehill, brothers and sisters-in-law Kenneth and Farris Whitehill, Darrell and Dorthy Whitehill, Duane and Gwyneth Whitehill, Boyd and Gwen Whitehill, Jim and Nancy Whitehill, sister- in-law Connie Whitehill, sister-in-law Barbara Taylor, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Ina Rhea is survived by her daughter Karen Whitehill Stanbrough of Red Oak, grandson Spencer Stanbrough and (Amanda Dye) of Clarinda , granddaughters Kylie Stanbrough and (Jake Larson) of Red Oak and Hannah Stanbrough of Red Oak, great-grandchildren Kinlee and Lakeyn Larson of Red Oak, brother and sister-in-law Charles and Connie Spencer of Shenandoah, special cousin Cindy Brooks of Shenandoah, brothers-in-law Donny (Elaine) Whitehill of Elmo, MO , Harold (Eloise) Dinsmore of Farragut, IA, LeRoy (Lorene) Whitehill of Shenandoah, and Junior Taylor of Shenandoah, sister-in-law Darlene Harbin of Shenandoah and many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Funeral Service will be held 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at the Congregational Church in Shenandoah.  Visitation with the family will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Monday, May 8, 2023 at the Wabash Memorial Chapel in Shenandoah.  Burial will be held at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Shenandoah.  In lieu of flowers memorials may directed to the family.