Rhonda Lee Grubb

Our beloved Rhonda Lee Grubb, born Rhonda Lee Wilkinson, 76, was called home and entered the kingdom of heaven June 23, 2024. After a long and tiring journey with cancer, she passed surrounded by her loved ones in the comfort of her home. 

Rhonda was born Aug. 17, 1947, in Tacoma, Wash., and raised by her loving parents, Marvin and Virginia Wilkinson. She shared a beautiful childhood and later adult life with her younger brother, Mike, who always knew how to make her laugh. Rhonda attended nine years of Catholic school at Sacred Heart and St. Leo’s in Tacoma, where she solidified her love for the Lord. She then attended and graduated from Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Wash., in 1965. She often spoke of her time on her Aqua-Maids synchronized swim team and her time in Alaska growing up. 

Rhonda met the love of her life, Michael Grubb, in 1963. The two quickly became inseparable. They married July 13, 1966, in Tacoma, Wash., and celebrated just shy of 58 years of marriage. Together, the two created a beautiful life full of hard work and love. They welcomed their first child, a daughter, Michele, in 1968, followed by their sons Michael Scott in 1971, Steven in 1972 and Eric in 1977. 

Rhonda was the most loving mother and wife; she spent her time as a homemaker for a good portion of her life. She later re-entered the workforce at the United States Postal Service as a central forwarding system clerk, where she made a plethora of friends whom she talked about for many, many years to follow. Rhonda and Mike enjoyed skiing, spending time with friends, camping, hunting trips, traveling and enjoying the adventure of life with one another.

 In 2008, Rhonda, Michael and three of their grandsons made the move from Tacoma to Moses Lake, Wash. They settled into a beautiful home in the country. Rhonda was able to grow and tend to the most beautiful flower beds and garden, which she truly enjoyed. You could often find her sitting in her front room where the sunshine poured in doing sudoku, chatting on the phone or crocheting. Her Christmas stockings were one of the best things she would crochet. Rhonda loved Christmas, everything about it. Baking, decorating, shopping, cooking and time with family. She had the most beautiful Christmas ornament collection filled with hand-painted beautiful pieces. Putting up her Christmas tree was her favorite part of the year. Michael and Rhonda loved to sit on their back patio and drink coffee with one another while looking out onto their beautiful property. Rhonda spent her time pouring her love into her family, attending dance recitals, football games, wrestling matches, track races, concerts, plays and 4-H activities for her grandchildren. 

Rhonda was the most loving grandmother and great-grandmother. She made each of her grandchildren feel special and loved beyond words. Her babies were her whole world and she would do anything for any one of them. She instilled strong morals of kindness, forgiveness, love, patience and grace into her family. Rhonda was the true embodiment of a woman of God. Her warm infectious smile, kind eyes, love of Christmas and cookie jars, long phone calls, birthday cards, all-consuming hugs, raspberry jam, homemade spaghetti sauce, great advice and pure loving heart will be immensely missed. 

Rhonda is preceded in death by her father Marvin Wilkinson, as well as many aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins. She is survived by her mother, Virginia Wilkinson; husband Michael Grubb, daughter Michele Ward (Luke); sons Scott Grubb (Misty), Steven Grubb (Stephanie) and Eric Grubb (Ashley); brother Mike Wilkinson (Susie); grandchildren Anthony Black (Sarah), Curtis Grubb, Illyssa Raymond (Cole), Sidnee Grubb (Benjamin), Ryan Grubb, Emma Grubb, Derek Grubb, Joshua Grubb, Clara Grubb and Lindsey Grubb; and great-grandchildren Levi Black, Grace Black, Lynlee Raymond, Raegan Raymond and Hallie Raymond, as well as many beloved nephews and nieces. 

A service for Rhonda will be held Saturday, Aug. 24 at 2 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church, 1142 W. Ivy Ave., Moses Lake, Washington. 

Please express your thoughts and memories for the family at www.kayserschapel.com. Arrangements are under the care of Kayser's Chapel of Memories.