Ada Wysong, 97, of Orlando, Florida, passed away peacefully on the evening of Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
She was born Nov. 1, 1927, in Preble County, to the late David and Grace (House) Rike. She attended Lanier School in West Alexandria. Ada began her career as a welder at Rexarc and retired after 25 years.
Ada married her soulmate Corvin Wysong on Nov. 30, 1945, and enjoyed 65 years of blissful matrimony until his passing in 2011. She was a Charter Member of the West Alexandria “Firebelles” as a spouse of a volunteer firefighter. Ada mothered a beautiful daughter, Marlene Wysong Melton and stepson Larry Wysong. Ada grew up on a farm just outside of West Alexandria, with her nine brothers and sisters. She loved to be outside, whether it be tending to her flowers, hunting mushrooms in the woods or fishing with her husband and grandchildren.
She was an avid bowler and weekly visitor to Preble Lanes on league night. Ada was a strong woman who continued to live alone after the passing of her husband and daughter. She joined the ladies at her community pool doing water aerobics until 95 and was still driving herself to appointments and errands one year ago.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her daughter and son-in-law Marlene and Michael Melton; siblings Sarah Louise Masters, James Edward Rike, Frederick Eugene Rike, Susanna Box, Charles Allen Rike, Donald Lowell Rike, Richard David Rike, Gerald Theodore Rike and Frances Joesphine Sizemore and her grandson Scott Melton.
In addition to her stepson, she is survived by her grandchildren Rodney & Sherry Wysong, Gary Wysong, Craig & Alla Melton and Carla & Marty Fromm; great-grandchildren Jesse, Sarrah, Jamie, Corwin, Steven, Matthew, and Brandilyn; great-great-grandchildren Jesse, Kasey, Layla, Avalynn, Gabriel, Delilah, Harley and Penelope. Ada was also blessed with many more extended family members that she loved and adored including Donna and Ron Jones and Crystal and Steve Kendrick who were with her in her final days.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, Aug. 9, from 10 a.m. until time of memorial service for Corvin and Ada at 11 a.m. at the Gard Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 67 W. Dayton Street, West Alexandria. Inurnment will follow at Fairview Cemetery in West Alexandria.