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Mary Wu Obituary
Mary Charles Wu passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 14, 2022 with her husband, Richard at her bedside.
Mary was born April 2, 1944 in Bonham, Texas to Mary Ethel Hooker Rigsby and Sgt Charles Rigsby, U.S. Army. Charles was killed in action at the Battle of The Bulge in 1945, close to the end of World War II. In 1949, her mother married Bill Stephens and they made their home in Sherman, Texas. Bill encouraged Mary to keep her ties with the Rigsby Family which she did throughout her life.
Mary graduated from Sherman High School in 1962. She was a member of the National Honor Society and Pan Am Society. She loved music and was known for her beautiful alto voice and sang with the high school choir and ensembles. With five friends, Mary formed a girls sextet who were popular with schools, churches, variety shows, and service organizations throughout North Texas.
She attended the University of Texas at Austin and East Texas State University where she earned her bachelor degree in elementary education. Her first teaching assignment was in Mesquite, Texas.
During a New Years Eve Party in 1968, Mary met Richard Wu and they were married on June 28, 1969. At the time, Richard was employed by Texas Instruments in Richardson, Texas.
In 1974, Mary and Richard relocated to Fullerton, California. A long-awaited baby entered their lives in 1976. Richie William Wu was the light of their lives.
Richard was employed by Hughes Aircraft in Fullerton and Mary began teaching with the Buena Park School District. During her career as an educator her assignments included teacher at Beatty and Gilbert Elementary, assistant principal at Gilbert Elementary and Buena Park Junior High and principal at Pendleton and Emery Elementary Schools. Mary received her administrative degree from Azusa Pacific University. While working at Gilbert Elementary she was a member of the team that applied for and received the first Distinguished School Award for the Buena Park Elementary School District. She also served with teams made up of BPSD teachers who reviewed schools both in the District and other districts involved in state and federally funded programs.
Mary is survived by her husband of 53 years, Richard of Fullerton; brother Larry and wife Cathy Stephens of Garland, Texas; nephew Derek and wife Anice Stephens of Dallas, Texas; great nephew Will, great niece Sloane of Dallas; brother-in-law Alan Wu and sister-in-law Judy Gu both of Laguna Woods, California.
A viewing will be Friday, May 20th at 11 Am at McAulay & Wallace Mortuary, Fullerton with a graveside service to follow at 12 PM at Loma Vista Memorial Park, Fullerton.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the ASPCA or Providence St. Jude Hospital in Fullerton, California.
Arla Little
May 30, 2022
My deepest condolences to Richard and the entire family. Mary was my principal at Emery School in Buena Park, and from the moment I met her, I knew that she would be a wonderful person to work for. My husband, our two girls, and I were all at Emery while she was there, and we were sharing memories of her at the dinner table the other day.
Mary loved to hear my stories about growing up in the country in Arizona, and she would share about her upbringing in Texas. We shared stories about us both growing up singing; I'm an alto too. She and I would compare our pearls that we would wear to school, which she would wear every single day. (To this day, every time I wear mine, I think of her.) She loved my daughters, and they loved having her as their principal. Mary regularly asked me how they were doing. She was honest, funny, helpful, and allowed me to grow as an educator. She loved telling the students about her dog Steven, and they in turn would tell her about their pets. At her retirement, I sewed her a quilt made up of squares that every third grader at the time made for her, and she loved it. Our school benefitted from her presence in the short time that she was there.
Reflecting on the time that I knew her, I will miss her hearty laughs, hearing how much she loved her Richard and Richie, and her genuine love of people. Her life positively impacted my life, and I'm sure that she left her imprint on the lives of her family and dear friends. She will be greatly missed.
Anice Stephens
May 20, 2022
Aunt Charlie (as we called her) was the dearest and sweetest person you could ever know. She cared so much for our family as if we were own kids and grandkids. Her great nephew Will refers to her as his 3rd grandmother. Her great niece Sloane loved receiving dresses from Charlie as they were always so pretty and frilly. She will be missed dearly by her family, and friends. Derek and I will miss her love, laughter (oh those tears of joy she always had!) and margaritas. She and Richie and Paw Paw are watching over us now.
Julie Tomlin
May 19, 2022
Mary was a dear and very close friend for 50+ years of my mother, Nancy Dimmitt. My mom so very much appreciated that they chatted every week for so many years. She will be remembered as a kind and caring and wonderful friend, so very important in my mother’s life. Julie Tomlin
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Cheryl Rushing
May 18, 2022
The world has been made a bit brighter by having had Mary in it. She was a joy to be around and her joy was infectious. As both a teacher and principal in the the Buena Park School District she touched so many lives! Mary will be greatly missed by all of us.
Kathy McGrath
May 18, 2022
Although I never personally worked with Mary, everyone I knew spoke so highly and respectfully of her! She was quite the lady and her personality shone through that great Texas accent. She definitely will be missed!
Mel Brencius
May 18, 2022
Richard, I am heartbroken by Mary’s passing. My condolences to you, her family nearby and in Texas, and of course to ‘her girls’ (Nancy, Terry, and Angela).
Mary was an incredible ‘people’ person. She was always far more than a friend and colleague. She was inspirational, honest, and laid down a heartfelt opinion always with a smile. For the last 24 years, she was a wonderful life guidance to me.
I’m fortunate to have seen you two at the house in November. I know she was struggling after Richie’s passing, and I always tried to keep her engaged with text messages or a quick call. Sadly, we played phone tag in March/April around her birthday and we never got to complete that last conversation.
Regardless, my deepest sympathies to one of the best people I have ever met. She has left a positive imprint on so many. I will ALWAYS be proud to have known her.
Angie Rigsby Garrison
May 18, 2022
My dear Mary Charles, my favorite Rigsby cousin. I had so much fun with you and so many memories of our drives to Fabens, Tx to visit our Rigsby Grandparents and family. We had the Rigsby in us always with a joke, smart remark, or laughing till we cried. My sincere sympathy to Richard, Larry, Cathy, and family. I will miss you desperately Charlie.
Angie Rigsby Garrison Irving, TX.
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