Wilma Irene (Bally) Rich

Wilma Irene Rich, daughter of the late Ray and Anna (Quillen) Bally, was born on March 30, 1923 in Andover, Kansas and departed this life on Wednesday July 17, 2013 at Landmark Villa in Cabool, Missouri, at 90 years of age.
Wilma grew up with three brothers in Andover, Kansas. After graduating from high school, she attended a business college and then worked as a secretary at Santa Fe Railroad. She also helped her aunt by working in her café, and became friends with a waitress there, Eunice Rich. She agreed to write to Eunice's brother, Charley Clinton Rich, who was in the service. After months of letters, and some visits, she travelled to Richmond, Virginia to see him. They were married on June 11, 1945. Seven children were born to this union.
After Clinton was discharged from the United States Army, they made their home on a farm south of Mountain Grove where they raised their family. They attended the Pleasant Home Church for many years. Wilma was saved during a revival and served the Lord throughout her life. In their later years, they moved to Mtn. Grove and attended the First Free Will Baptist Church. Mr. Rich passed away on September 14, 1990.
Wilma loved gardening, raising flowers, crossword puzzles, and doing crafts. She also loved to read, and when she could no longer see to read, she listened to countless books on tape. Her greatest love was her family. She was always proud to talk about her daughters, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
She was a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, friend, and neighbor.
Besides her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by two sons: David Lee, who died at birth, and Charles Ray, who was killed in the Vietnam War in 1967; and by three brothers.
In her last years, she lived at Landmark Villa in Cabool, where she made many friends among the staff and residents.
Wilma is survived by five daughters: Linda Moore and her husband, Ron, of Florence, South Carolina, Joan Frazier and her husband, Erwin, of Greenville, South Carolina, Carol Sanders her husband, Tommy, of Franklin, Tennessee, Dottie Halfaker and her husband, Dale, of Nixa, Missouri, and Susan Sigman and her husband, Barry, of Cabool, Missouri; twelve grandchildren: Andy, Corey, Ben, Carey, Jen, Lauren, Kayla, Michael, Sara, Susanne, Austin, and Zachary; ten great grandchildren: Nathan, Sierra, Jordan, Derek, McKenna, Jayden, Aiden, Michael, Jazlyn, and Ian.

Memorial Contributions:
Free Will Baptist Missions c/o the funeral home.