Margie R. Rich
Margie Ruth Rich, 96, of Fort Wayne and formerly of Decatur, went to her heavenly home on Tuesday, September 19, 2017 surrounded by her loving family. She was born on March 23, 1921 in Edison, Ohio to Ralph and Florence (Stiner) Billet. She was married on August 31, 1947 to Dr. Norval Rich.
She graduated from Edison High School in 1939, and then attended a two-year missionary program at God’s Bible School in Cincinnati, graduating as valedictorian in 1941 with a Christian Workers Course Certificate. She also graduated from White Cross Hospital School of Nursing as a registered nurse in 1944. After working for a year, she attended Taylor University and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in zoology in 1947. While there, she also worked as the school nurse. At Taylor, she met her future husband. He became a family physician and they moved to Decatur in 1954, where he practiced medicine for nearly 40 years and where they raised 10 children.
She worked as a registered nurse for several years, and then fully devoted herself to being at home with her children. She was a wonderful listener and was always available to her children and grandchildren, ready to help in any way possible. She was a devout Christian with a strong faith and was an example to her family. Her sense of humor, wit, intelligence, and charm were admired by her family and friends. She loved reciting and creating poetry, even in her later years. Her favorite chapter of the Bible to recite was Psalm 23. She loved listening to hymns and playing them on the piano, and knew all of the stanzas to most hymns. She attended First Missionary Church in Fort Wayne and was a member of Decatur Missionary Church for many years.
In the last year of her life, she lived at North Woods Village Memory Care Assisted Living in Fort Wayne, where she enjoyed her new community of friends and activities and continued her relationships with the Visiting Angels caregivers she had known for years.
She is survived by six sons, Stanley Rich; and David (Collette) Rich, both of Fort Wayne; Keith (Marge) Rich of Kirkwood, Missouri; Steven (Vicki) Rich of Decatur; Mark (Diandria) Rich of Wailuku, Hawaii; and Kevin (Beth) Rich of New York, New York; four daughters, Diane Smith of Bluffton; Janet (Chris) Marshall of Corinth, Texas; Cheryl (Jim) Robison of Greenwood; and Laura (Jerry) Gerig of Fort Wayne; 31 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and several nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband on March 31, 2015; and sister, Darlene Rankin.
Visitation will be three hours prior to the 2:00 p.m. funeral service on Saturday, September 23 at Haggard-Sefton & Hirschy Funeral Home in Decatur. Officiating will be Rev. Floyd Vieth. Burial will be at MRE Cemetery in Berne.
Memorials may be made to God’s Bible School and College in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Arrangements provided by Haggard-Sefton & Hirschy Funeral Home in Decatur. To sign the guest book, click on www.hshfuneralhome.com.