Virginia Fenrich

Virginia Knoten Rice Fenrich, 94, passed away Sept. 2, 2010 at Forest Hills Center. A native Tulsan, she was born April 16, 1916 to early Tulsa grocer, Simon Knoten and Edna at the site where the Circle Theater now stands. When her mother died in 1919, she and her 8 siblings were unselfishly raised by her beloved second Mom, Stella, when Simon remarried. She graduated from Central High School in 1934 and was married to Cecil Rice for 42 happy years until his death in 1980. She was again blessed when she married Donald Fenrich; welcomed by his two sons; enjoyed many travels, and spent another 25 happy years together until his death in 2006.

Virginia was a noted Tulsa bowler, active in many leagues and local and national tournaments; served as City Secretary; inducted into the Oklahoma Bowling Hall of Fame in 1982 as a Charter Member. She was also a faithful St. Louis Cardinal fan and never missed a TV game. A longtime member of Rose Hill Methodist Church and then First Evangelical Lutheran Church, she and Cecil and later Don, delivered Meals on Wheels for 24 years.

Virginia was the personification of the grit and determination so representative of our greatest generation. Despite her trademark independence, her love for her family was foremost in her life; she treasured family gatherings and never forgot family birthdays. She leaves a heritage of solid self-reliance born out of her German ancestry to her children and grandchildren. She was pre-deceased by sister, June Dodd, and brothers, Miller and Simon Knoten Jr., and Clarence Chaney. Survived by sisters Frances Dierker and Betty Miller of St. Louis; brothers Bobby Knoten, Lake of the Ozarks and Billie Knoten, Milwaukee, WI; daughter Carolyn Osborne (Bob), BA; Jack Rice (Donna), Tulsa; Jerry Rice (Linda), Oklahoma City; step-sons, John Fenrich and and his wife Kay of Owasso, OK and Gerry Ronningen-Fenrich and his wife Kris of Seattle, WA and Nice, France; 8 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Visitation on Monday, Sept. 6. Ninde Woodland Chapel. 728-8500. Services will be 1:30, Tuesday, Sept. 7th at First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1244 South Utica.