Priscilla Ries Waltz's Obituary
Priscilla Ries Waltz passed away peacefully in her sleep March 20 at her home after a valiant fight with cancer. Priscilla, born June 6, 1929 in Houghton, NY, was the daughter of Claude A. Ries and Ruth Warbois Ries.She grew up near the campus of Houghton Wesleyan College where her father was a professor of theology, thus leading to a lifelong relationship with the college. She also attended the college and did not miss a homecoming until health prevented her traveling to the campus just in the last decade of her life. She served on the Alumni Board and represented that board on the college board of trustees. She also volunteered on campus for twelve summers in lifelong learning programs.Priscilla moved to the Chicago area in 1951 where she worked for the Suburban Cook County Tuberculosis Clinic where she was the director of medical records. She retired in 1986 and moved to Ft. Myers and later to Shell Point Retirement Community where she attended the Village Church. For several years she led the drive for shoeboxes at Christmas for Samaritans’ Purse Operation Christmas Child. Volunteers filled nearly 400 shoeboxes for children around the world. It was at Shell Point where she met and married her soulmate at age 74. After living an exciting single life, she met Robert Waltz, fell in love and lived happily for eleven years before her death. During those years, her husband took her to Austria (where he had previously resided) on three occasions, during which she learned to know and love his good friends there.Priscilla’s passion was missions and she communicated with missionaries in numerous countries but her greatest love was for Liberia where her brother and family served at ELWA (Eternal Love Winning Africa) for many years. She traveled to Liberia at least four times and worked with the people she came to love. Although she relished traveling to Liberia, she also cruised on over 30 cruises from a freighter to the Queen Elizabeth II and traveled to nearly every continent.She is preceded in death by her parents and brother, Herschel Ries. She is survived by her husband, Robert E. Waltz, one niece, Debbie VanEenwyk (Rob) of Bergen, NY, and nephews, David Ries (Jean) of Houghton, NY and Dan Ries (Marlies) of Carlisle, PA, Shawn Spilman (Claire) of Cape Coral and Stanley Spilman (Debbie) of San Jose, CA.A special thanks to the staff of Hope Hospice who so kindly assisted Priscilla, her family and care givers.A memorial service will be held 10:45am Friday, March 27, 2015 at the Village Church of Shell Point. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Claude A. Ries Scholarship Fund at Houghton College, Houghton, NY.
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