Theodore William Rickenbach

Theodore William Rickenbach, age ninety-seven, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on June 9th, 2026, following complications of a stroke.

Born in Mohnton, PA, on May 5, 1929, son of the late Theodore Luther (Professor Schnitzel) and Mamie C. (Wenger) Rickenbach and brother of the late John Richard Rickenbach.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Joan Rita (Kutz) Rickenbach (d. December 16, 2012) who he dearly loves and misses every day.

Often known by his friends and family as Rick, Bill, or Ted, he was a 1948 graduate of Shillington High School, in Shillington, PA. He married his high school sweetheart Joan on May 11, 1951, in Reading, PA where they resided for four years and started their family. He and Joan relocated with their firstborn daughter Jessica to Arizona in 1955, where their remaining two daughters Jennifer and Sally were born and they lived for 12 years. In 1967, he and Joan relocated with their family to Annandale, VA until 1979 when they relocated to Ambler, PA. In 1995 he retired from the Veteran’s Administration then he and Joan relocated to Tucson, AZ to spend their contented retirement years.

To all who knew him, he was loving, strong, and kindhearted. He was also a gifted poet, storyteller, and comedian, drawing inspiration from the people he loved and from life’s most joyful and most difficult moments. He was a great comforter to anyone experiencing life’s challenges and advisor on how to live life more fully yet simply. He prided himself on restoring and refurbishing anything with potential for improvement or even a second chance!

He is profoundly missed and eternally loved by his family; three daughters and their husbands; Jessica J. Rickenbach and Loren E. Casement of Tucson, AZ, Jennifer L. and Kevin W. Black of Bernville, PA, and Sally B. and Johnny A. Gutierrez, of Rockville, MD; six grandchildren; Mario E. Saravia III of Tucson, AZ, Stefan A. Saravia and wife Carley T. (Moden) of Minneapolis, MN, Kyle S. Black of Columbia, SC, Samuel A. Black and wife Kelsi N. Burris of State College, PA, Abigail L. and Chris M. Ballard of Warrenton, VA, and Alexander A. Gutierrez of Rockville, MD; and four great grandchildren; Alexia G. Saravia of Tucson, AZ, and Aislyn M. and Greyden A. Saravia of Minneapolis, MN, and Bennett S. Black of State College, PA.

Interment services will be private.