Ruth Elizabeth May
December 11, 1903 — May 6, 2007
Ruth Elizabeth May of Eureka died on Sunday, May 6, 2007, at Medicalodge in Eureka at the age of 103.
She was born on December 11, 1903 in Great Bend, Kansas. The daughter of George Alden and Jeanette Elizabeth (Rawlins) Pratt. She graduated from Great Bend High School. During World War II she worked at Boeing and was nicknamed Rosie the Riveter. Ruth then worked for Buck’s Department Store. After the children were grown she went to work for The Institute of Logipedics caring for disabled children for 18 years, before retiring at the age of 72. She spent her summers in Michigan, and her winters in California visiting her family.
In 1923 she married William Garland May. They made their home in Wichita where they raised their family.
She was a member of the Fairmount Congregational Church and President of the P.T.A. all the years her children were in school. She also entertained at various nursing homes with her Cool Cats band for 13 years.
She is survived by her son, Melvin May of Olathe, Kansas; daughter, Millie Parrish of Eureka, Kansas; eleven grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren and seventeen great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and sons, David Alden and Donald Erwin May and two daughters, Anita and Venita May and one sister.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Wednesday, May 9, 2007 at Koup Family Funeral Home with Pastor Alan Hunter officiating. Interment will be on Thursday at 1:00 P.M. at Old Mission Wichita Park Cemetery.
A memorial has been established in her name to the Jefferson Street Baptist Church of Eureka. Donations may be sent in care of the funeral home P.O. Box 595, Eureka, Kansas 67045.
She was born on December 11, 1903 in Great Bend, Kansas. The daughter of George Alden and Jeanette Elizabeth (Rawlins) Pratt. She graduated from Great Bend High School. During World War II she worked at Boeing and was nicknamed Rosie the Riveter. Ruth then worked for Buck’s Department Store. After the children were grown she went to work for The Institute of Logipedics caring for disabled children for 18 years, before retiring at the age of 72. She spent her summers in Michigan, and her winters in California visiting her family.
In 1923 she married William Garland May. They made their home in Wichita where they raised their family.
She was a member of the Fairmount Congregational Church and President of the P.T.A. all the years her children were in school. She also entertained at various nursing homes with her Cool Cats band for 13 years.
She is survived by her son, Melvin May of Olathe, Kansas; daughter, Millie Parrish of Eureka, Kansas; eleven grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren and seventeen great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and sons, David Alden and Donald Erwin May and two daughters, Anita and Venita May and one sister.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Wednesday, May 9, 2007 at Koup Family Funeral Home with Pastor Alan Hunter officiating. Interment will be on Thursday at 1:00 P.M. at Old Mission Wichita Park Cemetery.
A memorial has been established in her name to the Jefferson Street Baptist Church of Eureka. Donations may be sent in care of the funeral home P.O. Box 595, Eureka, Kansas 67045.
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