Rita L Unruh, 77, was born in Lyons, KS on November 8, 1941 to Charles
Lou Tyrrell and Vivian May (Hayden) Tyrrell. She left her earthly life
on April 19, 2021 after complications from a kidney transplant, from the
generous act of love from an anonymous donor, to begin her heavenly
life with God the Father, Jesus Christ the Lord, and the Holy Spirit.
Rita was preceded in death by her parents, and brother Charles L. & Ann Tyrrell.
She is survived by her husband, and love of her life Robert R Unruh, to
whom she was married 58 wonderful years; son Troy R. and his wife Brenda
A. Unruh, their children Maggie (Margret), Emily, Elizabeth, and Drew
(Andrew); daughter Gina L. Unruh (late husband Ron G. Unruh) and their
children Lance & Jackie Unruh, Brock Unruh, Jeremy & Heather
Unruh, Samantha & Gabe Rijfkogel, and Timothy Unruh; and son Trenton
S. Unruh and his children, Christopher Richmond, Caleb Unruh, Allie
(Alexis) & Cody Long, Shay (Shayli) Unruh, Robert Ross Unruh, and
Carley Unruh; 16 great grandchildren, and her dog Paz, grand dog Katy
and great grand dog Eloise.
She is also survived by sister Vivian (Ginger) Miller (late Frank
Miller); brother Jack & Maxine Tyrrell; Loretta & Jim Hull;
Barbara Unruh (late Phil Unruh); Carol Berry; Glenda & Kenny Vogel;
Adele & Kenny Koehn; Denton Unruh (late Joyce Unruh); Martha &
Dennis Bell; Susan & Orville Williams; Louise (late Bruce Unruh);
Roger & Donna Unruh; and Danny & Brenda Unruh. She had 41
nephews and nieces, many friends, and loving spiritual family members.
In her early years she lived in Chase, KS where her father owned a
business CL Tyrrell International Dealership and Tyrrell Trucking. She
met Robert on the campus of Fort Hays State University and was married
December 1, 1962. She and Robert moved to Garden City, KS in 1966. Rita
worked at the Associates, Inc., was the secretary to Principal Duane
Woodson at Garden City High School, and later became partner with Robert
when he began a scratch State Farm Insurance Agency in 1972.
Raised a Christian Scientist, Rita met the other love of her life in
1987, Jesus Christ, through loving friends and was saved, baptized in
water, and baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit at Word of Life
Church, where she served on the worship team and Covenant Women.
Recently, she attended Turning Point Church of the Nazarene. A loyal
friend with a servant’s heart and contagious laugh, she loved her family
and the spending time in the Word of God. She was a powerful woman of
prayer. Although she was small in stature, she was a giant in her
passion and heart for her family and people she loved. Rita was strong
in the Lord and in His power and might; she knew how battle in the
Spirit and win. We are confident, although she is absent from her body,
she is present with our Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8).
A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 24,
2021 at Turning Point Church of the Nazarene with Pastor Nathan Haeck
officiating. Memorials may be given to the Missions Department of
Turning Point Church of the Nazarene 2720 N Campus Dr Garden City, KS
67846 or the Unruh Family Fund at the Western Kansas Community
Foundation 402 N Main Garden City, KS 67846 which benefits area
vacation bible school programs and the ABC Pregnancy Center all in care
of Garnand Funeral Home of Garden City.