Reta Faye Rabe

Reta was born on July 31, 1931 and passed away on April 9, 2012. She was the sixth child of James Everett Atkins and Tommy Fern Holman Atkins. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers J.T. and John Atkins, and her first husband, Frank Allen Wilson. Reta is survived by her husband of 43 years, Milton Rabe,; sons Donald Wilson (Jean Pine) of Beatrice, Nebraska; Robert Wilson (Cheryl) of Glendale, Arizona; Daniel Rabe (Donna) of Munds Park, Arizona; daughters Patricia Wilson (Christopher Schlemmer) of Tempe; Julie Wilson (Pat Moffat) of Tempe; Dawn Berens (Kelly) of Omaha, Nebraska; and Debra Mitchel (Steven Walter) of Phoenix. Also survived by grandchildren The Rev. Brian Kemp-Schlemmer (Summer) of Tucson; James Schlemmer (Heather), of Tempe; Jeffrey and Tyler Wilson of Glendale; Benjamin and Aaron Moffat of Tempe; Ashley Mitchel (Paul French) of Phoenix; Melinda Thomas (Christopher) of Tempe; and Tara Wilson of Glendale. Great grandchildren are Chloe and Mia Thomas of Tempe; Adilyn Schlemmer of Tempe; and Kingston French of Phoenix. Reta is also survived by her brothers, Floyd Atkins of Gladstone, Missouri; Allen Atkins of Lawson, Missouri; and Marvin Atkins of Deer Lodge, Montana; as well as her sisters Ruth Rudd of Kearney, Missouri; and Donna Smoot of Excelsior Springs, Missouri.

Reta was a loving and devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and “GiGi”. She was a dedicated member of the United Methodist Church and served many positions within the United Methodist Women. She loved music and sang with the choir at New Song United Methodist Church, the Traditionaires, and the Munds Park Community Choir. The first time she ever sang in public was when she was asked to sing in a talent contest in 1st grade, and the last time was December 18th, 2011, when she sang a duet in church.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 21st at 11:00 am at New Song United Methodist Church in Surprise, Arizona. In lieu of flowers, contributions are welcome to New Song UMC or Hospice of Arizona Foundation.