Mary Charles Wu

Mary was born April 2, 1944 in Bonham, Texas to Mary Ethel Hooker Rigsby and Sgt Charles Rigsby, U.S. Army. Charles was killed in action at the Battle of The Bulge in 1945, close to the end of World War II. In 1949, her mother married Bill Stephens and they made their home in Sherman, Texas. Bill encouraged Mary to keep her ties with the Rigsby Family which she did throughout her life.

Mary graduated from Sherman High School in 1962. She was a member of the National Honor Society and Pan Am Society. She loved music and was known for her beautiful alto voice and sang with the high school choir and ensembles. With five friends, Mary formed a girls sextet who were popular with schools, churches, variety shows, and service organizations throughout North Texas.

 She attended the University of Texas at Austin and East Texas State University where she earned her bachelor degree in elementary education. Her first teaching assignment was in Mesquite, Texas.

During a New Years Eve Party in 1968, Mary met Richard Wu and they were married on June 28, 1969. At the time, Richard was employed by Texas Instruments in Richardson, Texas.

In 1974, Mary and Richard relocated to Fullerton, California. A long-awaited baby entered their lives in 1976. Richie William Wu was the light of their lives.

Richard was employed by Hughes Aircraft in Fullerton and Mary began teaching with the Buena Park School District. During her career as an educator her assignments included teacher at Beatty and Gilbert Elementary, assistant principal at Gilbert Elementary and Buena Park Junior High and principal at Pendleton and Emery Elementary Schools. Mary received her administrative degree from Azusa Pacific University. While working at Gilbert Elementary she was a member of the team that applied for and received the first Distinguished School Award for the Buena Park Elementary School District. She also served with teams made up of BPSD teachers who reviewed schools both in the District and other districts involved in state and federally funded programs.

Mary is survived by her husband of 53 years, Richard of Fullerton; brother Larry and wife Cathy Stephens of Garland, Texas; nephew Derek and wife Anice Stephens of Dallas, Texas; great nephew Will, great niece Sloane of Dallas; brother-in-law Alan Wu and sister-in-law Judy Gu both of Laguna Woods, California.

A viewing will be Friday, May 20th at 11 Am at McAulay & Wallace Mortuary, Fullerton with a graveside service to follow at 12 PM at Loma Vista Memorial Park, Fullerton.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the ASPCA or Providence St. Jude Hospital in Fullerton, California.