Ruthene Kitchen
Ruthene Marie Kitchen of Bourbon, MO, was born Sunday, July 18, 1926 at St. Louis, MO to the union of Hugh and Cleo (Nee: Jack) Shults and left from this life, surrounded by family, on Thursday, March 22, 2018 at her home in Bourbon, MO at the age of 91 years.
Ruthene was united in marriage to Lawrence Kitchen on September 14, 1946 at Highlandville, MO and they are the proud parents of Kenneth, Ronald and LaDonna.
After graduating high school, Ruthene was a telephone operator during World War II. After she was married, she worked as a librarian in Florissant, MO for a few years before moving to Bourbon. She worked at the Bourbon Library from the 1950’s till retiring in 1996.
Ruthene enjoyed crocheting items for her family and friends. She spent hours reading, sewing, putting puzzles together and working crossword puzzles. She was an avid collector of angels, dolls and music boxes.
Ruthene was actively involved in Samaritan’s Purse “Operation Christmas Child.” She filled shoe boxes full of gifts, candy and religious items and these boxes are mailed all over the world. Christmas was Ruthene’s favorite time of year.
For the last several years Ruthene and Lawrence have been attending the First Baptist Church of Stanton, Missouri.
Ruthene was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, great aunt, great-great aunt, sister-in-law and friend of many. She will be truly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Ruthene is preceded in death by her parents Hugh and Cleo Shults, sister Bernadine and husband Charles Kessinger, sister-in-law Bernice Eads and other family and friends.
Those who are left to treasure her memory and to continue her legacy are her loving husband of seventy-one years Lawrence Kitchen of the home, three children; Ken and wife Edna Kitchen of Bay, MO, Ron and wife Candy Kitchen of Leasburg and LaDonna Cain and companion Robert H. Rash III of Washington, Missouri, six grandchildren; Mandy and husband Christian Patton of Springfield, MO, Michael Kimberlin and companion Colleen of Wildwood, MO, Arron Kitchen and companion Tiffany of Herman, MO, Nathan Kitchen and companion Heather of Owensville, Nicholas Cain and companion Crystle of St. Clair, MO and Zachary Cain and companion Katie of St. Louis, twelve great grandchildren, sister Normagene and husband Gene Henry of Davenport, Iowa, brother-in-law Elbert and wife Sandra Kitchen of Sullivan, nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, great-great nieces, great-great nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
Visitation was Monday, March 26, 2018 from 5-8 p.m. at the Mizell Funeral Home, 904 W Washington Street, Cuba, MO.
Funeral service was held 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 27, 2018 at the Mizell Funeral Home of Cuba with Pastor Melody Pryor officiating.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Samaritan’s Purse “Operation Christmas Child,” P.O. Box 3000 Boone, NC 28607 in Ruthene’s memory.
Interment and prayers will follow at the Lick Creek Cemetery, Cuba, MO.
The Mizell Funeral Home of Cuba is honored to be serving the Kitchen family.