Andrea Irene Rumley
Obituary
Andrea Irene Rumley, beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and daughter, passed away peacefully at her home in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the age of 57. Born Andrea Irene Kelley at George Air Force Base in Victorville, California, Andrea grew up with a passion for aviation and a love of learning.
Andrea pursued higher education at Oklahoma State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering. During her time at OSU, she served as President of the Flying Aggies, reflecting her deep commitment to the field of aviation.
Her professional journey began at R&R Engineering in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, where she met her future husband, Wayne Banes Rumley. Andrea’s career continued at Flight Safety International in Broken Arrow, where she worked as a software engineer, developing advanced software for flight simulators used to train airline pilots. Her expertise and dedication were further recognized when she joined Aeromet (now L3Harris Aeromet), where she contributed to classified projects for the U.S. military.
Andrea was a devoted mother to her son, Charles (Chuck) Pollard II, born on April 13, 1987. Despite the demands of motherhood, she continued to pursue her education and career, balancing both with grace and determination. In 2007, she married Wayne Banes Rumley in a beautiful ceremony in Taormina, Italy. Their marriage, like any, had its challenges, but their love for one another always prevailed, strengthening their bond over the years.
Andrea was predeceased by her husband, Wayne, in May 2023. Although his passing deeply affected her, she showed incredible resilience as she began to heal and move forward.
She is survived by her son, Charles Pollard II, his wife Casey Sue Pollard, and their children, Charles (Trey) Pollard III and Cayden Olivia Pollard. Andrea is also survived by her parents, Toy Kelley and Jack Kelley; her sister, Elissa Malone; her brother, Jack Kelley II; and his children, Jack Kelley III, Emma Kelley, and Allison Kelley, along with Allison’s children: Athena, Alayna, and Aria.
Andrea’s Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held at the First Christian Church of Tulsa, located at 913 S. Boulder Ave., Tulsa, OK 74119, at 2:00 p.m. Friday, September 6, 2024. Her family invites all who knew and loved her to join them in honoring her life and legacy.
Andrea will be remembered for her brilliance, her love of flight, and, most importantly, her unwavering love for her family. She will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.
Events
Tributes & Memories
I was sad to discover only today (1-21-25, which I believe is her birthdate) that Andrea passed away last year. Although I didn't know her extremely well I did have several opportunities to photograph her, often with her husband Wayne, at the National Cowboy Museum in Oklahoma City. I also photographed her especially for her husband and found her to be a beautiful and somewhat shy woman who played well to the camera. I haven't talked to her in about five years and miss being in touch. God bless you, Andrea.
Joe Ownbey
Andrea was our next-door neighbor and until Wayne died he was our neighbor as well. Andrea loved Wayne with all of her heart and she had a difficult time adjusting to his loss. She and I would talk on her front porch or while walking her precious dog and she became a lovely friend to me. Her eyes really lit up when I took her loaves of banana bread! I will miss our visits. Marilyn Schooling.
Marilyn Schooling