Marilyn Elizabeth Rich

SALINA - Marilyn Elizabeth Rich, 80,  passed away at home on July 7, 2021 in Salina, Kansas. She was born in Buffalo, New York on May 7, 1941 to Pastor Howard T. Rich and Marguerite E. Rich.

The family moved several times in the early years and lived briefly in Harlingen, TX and Philadelphia, MS and Rosedale, MS before settling in Johnson City, TN for most of Marilyn’s teenage years. Then in 1959, Marilyn went to Memphis where she attended Baptist Hospital School of Nursing for her RN degree.  Parents, Howard and Marguerite, would later move to Memphis in 1971.  

In 1962, she married Gerald W. Smith and settled in West Memphis, AR where they had three children: Mark, Teri and Timothy.  Marilyn served in a local community health clinic there until moving to Salina, Kansas in 1974. She would then go on to serve for over 30 years at the Salina Regional Medical Center (then “Asbury Hospital”) in the emergency room, ambulatory services and endoscopy departments. She was devoted to direct patient care throughout her career.

Marilyn was a woman of great faith and an active member of First Southern Baptist Church in Salina, KS, singing in the choir and teaching Sunday school. She and her husband, Sid, were also regular volunteers for several community service projects providing food to the hungry and sharing the gospel with everyone they encountered. One of her favorite activities was to take “blessing bags” with candies and cookies to retail workers who had to work on the holidays which often prompted a conversation about her faith.   

She is survived by her husband of 25 years, Sidney C. Rich;  as well as her three children, Mark Smith and wife, Donna, Teri Hall and her husband, Kent, and Timothy Smith and his wife, Diana. She is also survived by her two younger brothers, Burt with his wife, Norma, and Ted with his wife, Vicki.  In addition, Marilyn leaves seven grandchildren, Grayson, Shelby, Millicent, Caleb, Grant, Daniel and Casey; and three great-grandchildren, Maximus, Eloise and Carson.  She was preceded by both parents and one grandson, Tyler.

Visitation will be from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Sunday, July 18, 2021 with a memorial service following at 2 p.m., all at First Southern Baptist Church, Salina. 

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