Leta Winifred Risch

Leta Winifred Risch ("Winnie" to her friends and family) passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home on the evening of July 6, 2016. Winnie was born on May 4, 1927 in Melvern, Kansas to Louis and Veda Kramer. In her early years she was an avid singer and loved to perform in musicals and was her high school class homecoming queen and valedictorian. After moving to California, Winnie attended UCLA and then returned to Kansas where she attended the University of Kansas. In 1951 she met John Risch and the two were married in 1952. Winnie and John settled in Torrance where Winnie lived for 55 years in the same house. In 1982 at the time of John's death, they were married for 29 years.

Winnie loved her children and during their early years stayed at home playing an active part in their education and development. After returning to work, she was employed by TRW (now Northrup Grumman) for almost 20 years as an Administrative Assistant in the Dominguez Hills facility.

She was a long-time member of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Redondo Beach serving in various capacities, but her passion was teaching Sunday school to the Church's youth. In her later years Winnie loved to travel and remained a loving part of her children's and step-grandchildren's lives.

Winnie is survived by her son Tim and his wife Yolanda, daughter Cindie and her husband Mike, along with her three step grandchildren, Mike, Brian and Jennifer and two step great-grandchildren Khloe and Ellery. Her loving older sister, Dorothy Stanley, still lives in northern California.

Winnie will be laid to rest at Green Hills Memorial Park at 11:30 a.m. on July 16, 2016. A celebration of Winnie's life will be held at 1:00 p.m. at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Redondo Beach. A reception will follow immediately after. All who knew Winnie are invited.

For those who wish to make a lasting remembrance of Winnie, a donation in lieu of flowers can be made in her name to the American Cancer Society.