Catherine 'Kitty' Rueseler

Catherine "Kitty" Leah Rueseler, 90, passed away Sunday, June 12, 2016, at The Chateau Girardeau.

A native of Waynesboro, Burke County, Georgia, she was born Dec. 15, 1925, to Joseph and Bertha McGowan.

She attended school in Augusta, Georgia, and graduated from Augusta Junior College. During World War II, she was employed as a secretary at the Augusta Arsenal.

On Oct. 24, 1944, Kitty attended an "officers only" dance at Fort Gordon, Georgia. Her future husband, Vinson "Vince" Rueseler, had just arrived at Fort Gordon, but because he was not an officer he was not invited to the dance. With determination like many of the Greatest Generation, he scaled the drainpipe of the building and entered through a second-story window. After observing quietly for a while, he spotted Kitty on the dance floor and asked her to dance. While others cut in to dance, he made sure he had the last dance of the night, because that soldier was given the privilege of walking her to the bus she would take back to town. She gave him her phone number that night and he kept it in his wallet until his death March 30, 1998.

Kitty and Vince were married March 3, 1945. Following the war, they returned to Vince's hometown of Cape Girardeau. While primarily a homemaker, Kitty also worked for a time at Rueseler Chevrolet and First Presbyterian Church of Cape Girardeau.

Kitty was a longtime and active member of First Presbyterian Church of Cape Girardeau. She also was a 48-year member of Chapter GF, PEO Sisterhood. She was an avid bridge player.

As her dear friend Madge Ridings wrote, "She was so Southern and had her own 'Southern language.' She loved people and was loved dearly in return. She was such a devoted friend and let one know it. She was a marvelous cook and proved it often with her dinners and thoughtful gifts. She loved life and was such a delight to be around. She lived life to the fullest. She was beautiful and such a Christian lady."

Kitty is survived by her four children, Vicki (Jim) Overstreet of Madison, Mississippi, John Rueseler of Houston, Catherine Lowes of Jackson and Rob (Janet) Rueseler of Cape Girardeau; seven grandchildren, Olivia Wells, Leah Overstreet, Will Overstreet, Amanda Walker, Mesha Aroutsidis, Drew Lowes, and Eric Rueseler; and 15 great-grandchildren.

She also is survived by her brothers and sisters, Elease Morgan and Martha Tudor of Augusta, Joe (Jeannie) McGowan Jr. of Savannah, Georgia, Carl McGowan and Bill (Linda) McGowan of Evans, Georgia, and Leon McGowan of Braslton, Georgia; and her sister-in-law, Ruth Knote of Cape Girardeau.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and her good friend and neighbor Dr. Earl Johnson.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church of Cape Girardeau. The Rev. Kim Nelson will officiate.

The family requests memorials be given to First Presbyterian Church of Cape Girardeau or to the SoutheastHEALTH Cancer Center in honor of the excellent care she received. From the valet parkers, receptionists, nursing staff, office staff, volunteers and her wonderful Dr. Andrew Moore, she was treated with such care, dignity and respect.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.