Arva Wenger passed peacefully into the arms of her Heavenly Father on October 13th, 2022. She was 81 years old. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, October 19th, from 11AM to 12PM at the Pioneer Bible Baptist Church located at 27000 Metcalf Road in Louisburg, KS. A visitation and viewing will be held at the church from 10 to 11AM. The burial will take place at Pleasant Valley Cemetery at 9501 W. 159th Street, Overland Park, KS immediately following the service.
Arva was born in 1941 in Morrowville, KS on the family farm as the 12th out of 14 children. She was a very outgoing person and would often engage in conversation at any moment, even with strangers. She was quick witted and would jokingly throw verbal darts to strike up humorous exchanges between herself and others. After church services, she would usually be the last person out of the building, particularly with her pastor in Louisburg. Arva deeply loved the Lord and was devoted to both her family and her friends. She was intelligent, capable and self-driven. She taught herself computer skills and became a software manager for the Abbott Labs engineering department in charge of plant safety. She enjoyed country and Christian music, played guitar and piano and had a passion for singing, all of which led her to write many of her own songs. She often performed at church services and would give her testimony between songs. Arva always looked for opportunities to serve. She loved working with small children in her church choir. When she saw a need for singles in a Christian environment, she spent several years leading a small singles group at First Baptist Church in McPherson, KS. Years later, her desire to bless others led her to Hattiesburg, Mississippi where she served as a teacher for troubled teenaged girls.
Arva is survived by her husband Herb Wenger; her son Randy White and his wife Sheri; her son Chris White, his wife Claire and their children Alex and Brenna, her brother Fred Applegarth; her sisters Dorothy Kershner, Della Goldsberry and Wilma Thompson; and Ricky and Judy Rodriguez and their daughters Bianca, Isabelle and Adrianna, who have been family for 20 years in all ways but blood. She will be deeply missed by these people and so many others who have been blessed by her life.
Her family would like to express special thanks to the staff at Silvercrest Assisted Living and at Ascend Hospice for their kindness and special care of Arva in her final weeks. We couldn’t have asked for more attentive and considerate care for one we loved so dearly. Memorial contributions may be left to Alzheimer’s Association, 3846 W. 75th St. #4126, Prairie Village, KS 66208. Assistance by Funeral Advocates, LLC.
With sympathies to the family. Was privileged to get acquainted when she lived in McPherson & came to Garden Church