Valentina Rybin of Richmond Hill, Georgia, passed away on Tuesday, March 14, 2017 at her daughter's home surrounded by her loving children.

She was born in the former Soviet Union on February 27, 1934, the daughter of Matrena and Vasiliy Bashkatov. Valentina married her husband, Ivan Rybin, in 1951.

Valentina worked many jobs over her lifetime. Her greatest work was serving the Lord in the persecuted church during Communism. Her other great work was the raising and nurturing of 13 children.  For this accomplishment the Soviets awarded her the "Mother Hero" medal which allowed her to go to the front of the food lines. She prayed and waited for many years for the freedom of America for her family. In 1991, those prayers were answered and Valentina immigrated to Watertown, Wisconsin with her children.

She is survived by her husband; her sons Sergey (Tatiana), Arkadiy (Zinaida), Alexander (Yelena), Valeriy (Anna), Andrey (Yelena), Alexei, Yevgeniy (Irina), and Anatoly; daughters Lidiya, Natalia (John), Nadezhda (Brian), and Lilia (Bill); a sister, Nadezhda; 39 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren (with one on the way).  She is further survived by a niece, Marina, and other relatives in Russia.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a son, Vasiliy.

Funeral services will be held at Calvary Holy Church of God in Richmond Hill, on Friday at 11:30 a.m.  Visitation will be at the church from 11 a.m. until the time of service.