Sandra Kay Emrich

January 6, 1950 - May 3, 2019

Sandra Kay (Smith) Emrich was born January 6, 1950, in Ponca City, Oklahoma, the third of five children of Kenneth Harley Smith and Mary Lou (Johnston) Smith. She was called home from Falls Church, Virginia, to be with her Lord in the early hours of May 3, 2019, after a long struggle with scleroderma, lupus, and pulmonary arterial hypertension. Although her physical body became weak in recent years, Sandra’s faith in God and love of family kept her strong in spirit.

Sandy loved to tell stories of her childhood in Oklahoma and Colorado, many of which involved playing in neighborhood creeks, catching crawdads, and avoiding water moccasins. She passed on her spirit of adventure to her children, Lisa and Paul, to whom she referred as her greatest blessings in life. Sandy served as a mentor to many, from teens in the church choir she directed at Chapman Memorial Church of the Nazarene, to young airmen at Tinker Air Force Base and the Pentagon in Washington, DC, and to neighbors who wanted to learn how to sew or refinish furniture with her help. She mostly took pleasure in being “Grandma” to four beautiful grandchildren and will be remembered for her sweet smile, friendliness, positive outlook, inquisitive nature, creativity, and high integrity.

A graduate of Midwest City High School in Midwest City, OK, Sandy married her high school sweetheart, James Michael “Mike” Emrich, on March 26, 1968 at Bethel Temple Assembly of God in Del City, OK. Together they shared loves of music, art, family, and the french horn, frequently performing side-by-side with the Oklahoma Community Orchestra and other local ensembles. Sandy was a longtime member of Meadowood Baptist Church and its church orchestra. After moving to Virginia, she enjoyed performing with the Columbia Baptist Church brass quintet, the church orchestra, and the Mt. Vernon Orchestra in Alexandria, VA. Sandy and Mike divorced in 2004, but love of family always remained a common bond.

From 1969-1972, Sandy worked as an aircraft welder at Tinker Air Force Base to earn college funds, progressing from apprentice to certified journeyman. She graduated summa cum laude in 1979 from the University of Central Oklahoma (formerly Central State University) with a Bachelor of Music Education degree in vocal and instrumental music. After graduation, Sandy’s skills in music, attention to detail, and analytical nature translated well to a lifelong career with the Department of the Air Force, specializing in software development, information technology, process improvement, and advanced strategic planning and policy. Sandy was the first civilian in her organization to complete Air Command and Staff College, finishing in the top ten percent of all seminar graduates worldwide. She also earned a graduate certificate in Software Engineering Administration from Central Michigan University.

As a computer specialist, she designed, developed, and tested software for the Airborne Warning & Control System (AWACS) at Tinker AFB where she ultimately led management of $2.5B AWACS enhancements. In 1997, Sandy moved to Virginia to work at the Pentagon where she was a key player in many Department of Defense and Department of Air Force software initiatives, including the largest ever commercial software acquisition effort to date. Prior to retirement in 2011, Sandy served as strategic planning senior analyst for the Warfighter Integration and Air Force Chief Information Office at the Pentagon. Sandy was awarded numerous commendations during her 36-year career with the Air Force, including the Air Force Professionalism Award, Air Command and Staff College Distinguished Graduate, and the prestigious Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award presented during her retirement ceremony.

Sandy is survived by her daughter, Lisa Kay Emrich and husband, Robert Carlton Osberg of Falls Church, VA; her son, Paul Michael Emrich and wife, Ginger Darlene (Eakens) Emrich of Ada, OK; four grandchildren, Caleb Michael, Canaan Matthew, Jacob Daniel, and Sarah Elizabeth Emrich of Ada, OK; sisters, Marilyn Sue Fitzpatrick and Nancy Lea Williams; brother, Steven Kent Smith; step-mother, Bonnie V. Smith, and many nieces and nephews with whom she cultivated close relationships. She is preceded in death by her parents and brother John Kenneth Smith.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, July 27, 2019 at 10:00 AM at Meadowood Baptist Church in Midwest City, OK, followed by interment at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Oklahoma City, OK. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in her honor to Accelerated Cure Project for MS (acceleratedcure.org) and It’s A Child’s Life (itsachildslife.org).