Maranda Rickenbaker

COLUMBIA—Funeral services for Maranda Rickenbaker, 18, of Columbia, will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, April 19, 2014 at Andrew Chapel United Methodist Church, 210 Andrew Chapel Road, Swansea, SC 29160. Pastor Robbie Van Hall will officiate. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will greet friends from 5-8 p.m. Friday, April 18, 2014 at Thompson Funeral Home, 4720 Augusta Road, Lexington, SC 29073. Maranda passed away on Wednesday, April 16, 2014. Born in Orangeburg, she was a daughter of William P. Rickenbaker, Jr. and Stacey Hutto Rickenbaker. She loved life and never met a stranger. The foundation of our family was an angel on earth who we were privileged to love for 18 years. The life of Maranda Lynn Rickenbaker is one surrounded by love, compassion, and family. She was born on June 9, 1995 and was instantly became the foundation of the family. As a baby she would scoot and wiggle around determined to go wherever she desired. From watching movies to following her mom and dad around the yard she was always on the move. There were multiple surgeries and challenges throughout her life due to muscular dystrophy. Her life experiences and struggles would make the average person bitter, depressed, and unkind. These emotions were unknown to Maranda. Her strong will and spirit led to a love for life, people, and family. Her perspective on life was pure and completely untarnished by the world. Maranda wanted to be involved in everything her family was participating with. Whether watching her mom in the kitchen, following her dad to the shop, or riding the road with her sister. Her companionship was like no other. It was free and she gave it with no strings attached and with the most sincere intentions. Maranda loved animals and possessed a natural ability to manage them. The family's pets appeared to understand her condition and were almost instantaneously gentle and obedient toward her. They saw her way we do; A beautiful angel. Her family was complex and challenging at times and she was stronghold that made it all function. Maranda would plan and coordinate family functions and would demand participation. Who could tell her no? The family became dependant on her love and affection. She made everything better. The people who know her and our family are better and stronger because of her. The Lord truly blessed us with an angel. Maranda will be deeply missed and she will live in us and heaven for eternity. We need to honor her legacy of love and family. In life and death she will continue to be the foundation of our family and her perception on life will be the standard to live by. Thank you Lord for your gift and we will love and cherish it for eternity. Surviving in addition to her parents, William and Stacey Rickenbaker of Columbia; siblings, Preston Rickenbaker (Jessica) of Orangeburg, Mandy Rickenbaker Reitz (Nathaniel) of Columbia, Brittney McDaniel of Columbia and Jaden McDaniel of Columbia; three nephews and one niece; grandparents, Marilyn Bunch (Michael) of Columbia and George Hutto (Nancy) of Orangeburg; uncle, Michael Rickenbaker of Columbia; aunt, Pamela Rickenbaker McIntosh (Greg) of Atlanta, GA; also survived by Melissa Rickenbaker Dixon (Thomas) of Columbia and many loving extended family members. She was preceded in death by a great-grandmother, Evelyn Williamson; grandfather, William P. Rickenbaker, Sr.; maternal grandmother, Shelby Garvette and an uncle, Brandon Keith Rickenbaker. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Pets, Inc., PO Box 6394, West Columbia, SC 29171.