Obituary for Rebecca Rickard

Rebecca “Becky” Rickard of Manassas, Virginia, beloved daughter, wife, mom, grandma and all-around amazing person, passed away from cancer at the age of 68 while surrounded by her family on December 3, 2020.

Becky was born in 1952 in Tennessee to Joe and Thelma Tubb. Her lifelong love of reading and learning blossomed early and served her well throughout her school years. She was valedictorian of her high school graduating class in 1970 and valedictorian of the University of Tennessee College of Nursing’s first-ever graduating class of 1974. After graduation, Becky practiced as a Registered Nurse in the pediatric ward of a local hospital.

At the University of Tennessee, mutual friends set Becky up on a blind date with Dale Rickard in 1971. She quickly forgave them, and he wooed her with trips to the university theaters, hiking in the Smoky Mountains, visits to the shops in Gatlinburg, and late nights studying in the library. She married Dale in 1974.

In the years after the couple moved to Manassas, Virginia in 1980, Becky gave birth to son Alan and daughter Erin. We don’t know how she did it, but she devoted herself to being a stay-at-home mom (instilling her love of books and learning in her children all the while) until both were in school full-time. Then she dedicated much of her time to working at Marsteller Middle School. At first, Becky served as a parent volunteer in the front office, but when it became clear that she would just continue to show up each day, she was hired on as an administrative assistant. Becky went on to become the admin for the school’s Guidance office and later a data control specialist for the Prince William County Public Schools administration. Becky loved the camaraderie she developed with her Marsteller friends and looked forward to the lunch outings they continued to enjoy in the years since she “retired”.

When she didn’t have her nose in a book, we could find Becky experimenting in the kitchen. Becky loved baking and grilling, and many of her recipes are staples at the frequent family gatherings that she loved so much. We are relieved to know her grilling techniques and the recipes for her pumpkin gingerbread, raspberry vinaigrette dressing, and her granddaughters’ favorite white-cheddar Cheez-It peanut butter sandwiches, among others, but we remain mystified by the secrets of her skill with multiple types of bread flour, yeast, bread machines, and proofing boxes.

Family was immensely important to Becky, and she was always happy to share in our joys and lovingly care for us during our troubles. An attentive listener and a natural-born counselor, her instinct to care for others was the through-line of her life from her early days as a nurse to her years as a doting grandma. She was greatly loved and will be greatly missed.

Becky is survived by her husband Dale Rickard; son Alan Rickard and his wife Molly Rickard; daughter Erin Rickard; granddaughters Evelyn and Penelope Rickard; mother Thelma Tubb; and siblings Richard Tubb, Joe Randall Tubb, and Jan Roberson. She is preceded in death by her father Joe Tubb. We are all grateful for the wonderful years we had to share with Becky and will celebrate her life in a private family service.

Becky is also survived by her many orchids, so in lieu of flowers the family requests donations to either of the following charities:

The American Nurses Foundation (https://www.nursingworld.org/foundation/donate/), which is dedicated to transforming the nation’s health through the power of nursing.

Reading Partners (https://readingpartners.org/), which helps children become lifelong readers by providing one-on-one support to children in underserved communities.

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