Graveside services will be held for Rose Margaret Richards Avritt, 92, of Chickasha at 11 a.m. on Wednesday January 16, 2012, at Rosehill Cemetery.
Rose was born November 14, 1920, in Freeland, Pennsylvania, and was the fourth of six children born to John and Alice Richards. She passed Friday January 11, 2013, after a long illness.
As an operating room nurse in the United States Army Corp at Camp Hood, Texas, she met the love of her life, Lieutenant Woodrow (Woody) Avritt, when he was admitted as a patient. When he saw her beautiful blue eyes and dark hair, he was immediately drawn to her. They were married on April 18, 1944, and called Chickasha, Oklahoma, home for many years.
Rose was full of life and loved music, gardening, painting, cooking, sewing for her family and serving others. Together she and Woody enjoyed traveling to places including Russia, Israel, Mexico, Alaska and her favorite, Hawaii.
Her strong faith and giving spirit were evident. As a lifelong member of Epworth United Methodist Church, she was active in the United Methodist Women and missions group. She and Woody also hosted the Family Bible Time, a weekly television program airing in Chickasha for ten years.
Rose leaves behind her dear family: husband Woodrow Avritt of Chickasha; daughter Paula Malcolm and husband David of Plano, Texas; daughter Katie Stark and husband Stephen of Tulsa, Oklahoma; grandchildren Heather Stark, Andy Wallace, Jennifer James and Stephen Stark; and five great-grandchildren, Samantha Stark, Sabrina Stark, Lauren James, Riley Collett James and Amelia Stark.
Rose was preceded in death by her brothers Carl, John and Walter Richards; sisters Ruth Bressler and Edith Whitebread; and great-grandson Caelan Matthew Wallace.
Visitation with family will be from six to eight on Tuesday, January 15 at the Ferguson Funeral Home in Chickasha, where guests are encouraged to share their fondest memories of Rose in a special memory book.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Salvation Army.
Services are under the direction of Ferguson Funeral Home.