Obituary of Rhonda Groseclose Houseman

On Sunday, August 5th, Rhonda Deneese Groseclose Houseman was “gathered to her people.” She passed peacefully with her husband, Gary, holding her hands and quietly reminding her of how much she was loved.

Rhonda graduated from Rural Retreat High School in June 1971 as the class Salutatorian. After graduation, she went to work for the Bank of Speedwell. In November 1971, Rhonda and Gary were married and spent over 46 wonderful years together. She spent most of her career in banking as a teller, where she loved to wait on her customers. She had the great talent of learning everyone’s first name, and then when they came in the bank she greeted them with a smile, and always called them by name.

Her smile and gentle spirit were her trademarks. But her kindness was not limited to her work, it carried over into every aspect of her life: with her friends, her family, and her church. In January 2008, Rhonda retired from First Bank of Virginia to stay home and babysit grandchildren. That was the job she loved the most. She was wholly involved in the lives of all six grandchildren. She delighted in seeing them learn and grow. She felt blessed that they all lived beside her and all six intensely loved their Mimi.

She will be greatly missed by her family and friends, but they are better off for having known her. She smiled to the end, and her family was honored to care for her.

Survivors include her loving and devoted husband, Gary: a daughter Jennifer and Chip Ferguson: and a son, Michael and Laura Houseman. Also surviving are six dearly loved grandchildren: Catey, Molly, and Abby Mlynski and Grace, Luke, and Ben Houseman. She is also survived by a sister, Betty and Charles Copenhaver of Crockett and a brother, Gerald “Jerry” and Lois Groseclose of New Castle.

Funeral service will be held 11 A.M. Wednesday, August 8, 2018 at Grubb Funeral Home with Reverend Gary Grogg officiating.  Interment will follow in the Berea Christian Church Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 P.M. Tuesday at funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Berea Christian Church, St. Jude Fund at Berea Christian Church, 996 Berea Road, Wytheville, VA 24382. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.grubbfuneralhome.com

The Houseman family is in the care of Grubb Funeral Home.