Meta Stuart Fooks Rickard died on October 12, 2026 at the age of 92. 

She was a gifted educator, loving wife, patient mother, and loyal friend who sought to serve others before herself.She was predeceased by her parents, COL (Ret) Nelson Irving Fooks and Meta Stuart Shackleford Fooks; her brother, Robert Nelson Fooks; her husband, COL (Ret) Daniel Sprague Rickard; and her daughter, Ann Bolling Rickard Haller. She is survived by her sister, Mary Bolling Fooks Whittemore; her sons, Paul Daniel Rickard (Brooke) and COL (Ret.) Thomas Stuart Rickard (LTC (Ret) Elizabeth); her grandchildren, Mason, Molly, and Sarah; and six nieces and nephews.

Meta was born on August 5, 1934 at Gorgas Hospital in the Panama Canal Zone. As an Army Brat, Meta moved frequently and learned to develop resilience and relationships in every environment. She attended fifteen different schools in multiple states plus the Alaskan territory (before statehood), eventually graduating from Tokyo American High School, Japan, in 1952 while her father served on General MacArthur’s staff during the Korean War. She graduated from the College of William and Mary with a degree in French and was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She taught in Greenwich, Connecticut then in Columbus, Georgia, where she met a handsome Army officer named Daniel Rickard. Dan and Meta were married in St. Michael Episcopal church at Fort Benning in1959 and were soon stationed in the newly-established state of Alaska. Meta was blessed with grace and grit as they moved across the country multiple times, making many close friendships along the way. They finally retired in 1983 in Columbus,Georgia. A lifelong educator and volunteer, Meta always found time to help others. She served as a test proctor and adult education instructor at Fort Benning. She served as a tour guide at the Callaway Gardens Butterfly Center for two decades, gently teaching visitors as she developed a catalogic memory for flowers and plants. Meta was an active member of Daughters of the American Revolution and the local Army Daughters chapter in Columbus, Georgia.Of all her passions and interests, none was quite as dear to Meta as her service to Trinity Episcopal Church, where she served on the altar guild for more than 30 years,quietly helping behind the scenes to ensure things were just right. She made deep friendships there and was extremely grateful for all that Trinity has done to support her,especially in her last two years of poor health.

Funeral arrangements will be conducted by McMullen Funeral Home A memorial service will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church in Columbus, GA on Tuesday, October 20th at 11 a.m. followed by a reception in the Parish Hall. A private internment at the Fort Benning Cemetery will be held at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, any donations to Trinity Episcopal Church would be dearly appreciated.