Virginia Mae Dare Rye

Virginia Mae Dare Rye, 91 of the Pleasant View Community of Russellville, Arkansas passed from this life to her eternal Home on March 9, 2022, with family by her side.  She was born September 25, 1930 in the Solo Community in north Pope County, to Freable Dare and Bertie Lorine Dare.

Virginia was a 1949 graduate of Russellville High School.  She was a life-time member of the Russellville First Assembly of God Church, where she met the Love of her life Samuel “Bus” Rye.  They were married on September 2, 1956, married 65 years until Bus’ passing on September 3, 2021, one day after their celebration.  She was also active in the Women’s Ministry (WM’s) at the church, where she enjoyed fellowshipping with the other ladies during quilting, Bible Study and the other activities for the ministry.

Virginia was an amazingly loving and devoted Daughter, Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Aunt and Friend.  To know her was to know that she was a very loving, kind, sweet, caring and giving person.  She most definitely had a servant’s heart.  

In her earlier years she worked at Sterling’s Five and Dime Store, when needed played piano for churches in the surrounding area for their Sunday Services, went on to work at the International Shoe Factory until she became a mother then she was her happiest as a stay-at-home Mom.  When her children started school, she went to work at Friendship Community Services and Star Industries, where she spent 20+ years. She loved her role as an instructor working with them. The older children, she was instrumental in teaching them to do piece work for Tyson Foods.  This piece work afforded every other year for the students to be rewarded for their hard work with a sponsored trip to Graceland and Opryland, Virginia was over-the-moon proud to arrange these trips, because she knew they were well deserved.  She spent numerous years working the Election Poles, judging and participating in both the canning and quilting portion of the Pope County Fair.

She was an amazing cook and an accomplished seamstress.  She enjoyed cooking, canning, crocheting, quilting, working puzzles, playing dominos, and family time, especially with her grand-kids.  Often in her downtime she could be found curled up in the chair with her Bible and Sunday School lesson.

Virginia loved God first and foremost and then her family, who were her greatest joy.  

In addition to her parents, she was proceeded in death by husband of 65 years Samuel “Bus” Rye, Step-Father Alpha James Price, Sister: Flora Lee Dare, Brothers: Donnell Price, Floyd Price and Danny Price all of Russellville.  Step-Brothers: Ray Price, Earl Price and Babe Price, Step-Sister: Hazel Haulmark Hutcherson all of Russellville.

Left to cherish this amazing woman are her three children:  Marshall (Robbie) Rye, Phillip Rye “PR” and Karen Rye-Cummins all of Russellville.  Her four adored grandchildren:  Duffey (Kaylynn) Rye of Russellville, Jessie Rye Evans (Perry), Ginny Rye Hawkins (Erik) all of Danville and Paige Tipton Yarber (Cory) of Starksville, MS.  Her absolutely precious eight great-grandchildren: Laykynn, Skylar and Kendrick Rye of Russellville, Ryeland, Whitley and Heston Evans, Grady and Lennon Hawkins all of Danville.  Sister Vivian Arnold (Seth) of Lamar, Sister-in-laws Wanda Price, Becky Price, Linda Price and Shirley Lemley (Ed) all of Russellville.  Numerous nieces and nephews.  One special adopted daughter Betty Peevy Watkins (Ray) of Russellville.

Active Pallbearers:  Her Nephews; Chris Price, Ben Cross, Greg Arnold, Jeff Arnold, Aaron Arnold and Dr. Mitch Collins.

Honorary Pallbearers:  Ladies with the Women’s Ministry (WM’s): Margaret Shoemaker, Shirley Hankins, Faye Castleberry, Harriett Mills, Margie Rains, Judy Ellis, Sandy Engler, Anna Mae Price, Brenda Birge, Mary Stewart, Linda Lowell, Shirley Kier, Joann Manskar and Mary Armstrong; Kindred Hospice caregivers; Kelly Bixby and Michelle Vick and her homecare givers; Mary Wilson and Jerri Haddrix.

Family will be available for visitation from 5:00-7:00 pm on Tuesday March 15, 2022 at the Russellville First Assembly of God Church.

Funeral Service will be on Wednesday March 16, 2022 at the Russellville First Assembly of God Church at 10:00 am under the direction of the Russellville Family Funeral Home.  Pastor Larry Moore, Pastor Keith Underhill and Pastor Mike Norberg will officiate the service.  Burial will be at the East Point Cemetery following the service.

The Family would like to Thank Kindred Hospice for their Loving care to our Mother for the past few years.  Thank you, Kelly Bixby, Michelle Vick for being with her up to the very last breath.  Thank you to her home caregivers; Betty Watkins, Mary Wilson and Jerri Haddrix for helping us keep Mother at home, we are forever grateful.  All of you will forever be in our hearts for the kindness, tenderness and compassionate love that each of you gave both Mother and Dad over the past few years.

The Family requests in lieu of flowers and plants, a donation in memory of Virginia be made to the Russellville First Assembly of God Church or the Women’s Ministry (WM’s) at Russellville First Assembly of God Church, 124 East G Street Russellville, AR  72801.

Online obituary and guestbook available at www.russellvillefamilyfuneral.com.