Ruby Kirkpatrick

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Ruby Kirkpatrick, 94, of Marble Hill died Friday, Jan. 28, 2005, at Saint Francis Medical Center.

She was born Feb. 10, 1910, near Marble Hill, daughter of Otto William and Dora Mae Barks Reutzel. She and Hadley Kirkpatrick were married April 14, 1932. He died March 4, 1997.

Ruby started teaching in the schools of Bollinger County when she was 17 years old. She earned a bachelor of science degree from Southeast Missouri State University in 1960. She continued in Bollinger County for 35 years. She was a member of the Missouri State Teachers Association.

She was a member of the United Methodist Church of Marble Hill; also attended the Bible Chapel Church of Marble Hill; was a member of the United Methodist Women's Missionary Society; a past member of the Alpha Delta Kappa Gamma Chapter, a teacher's sorority of Missouri; and was listed in Who's Who in in Missouri Education as one of Missouri's outstanding educators.

Survivors include two daughters and a son-in-law, Mary Ann Gaines and husband Jerome of Marble Hill, Elizabeth N. Barkhurst of Princeton, Ind.; a brother, Cletus Reutzel of Jackson; a sister, Bonnie Jean Grindstaff of Scopus, Mo.; five grandchildren, Lary Gaines, Ginger Whittman, Shannon Gaines, Eric Barkhurst and Renee Merrill; 11 great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Orville Reutzel, and a sister, Clodine Barks.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Liley Funeral Home in Marble Hill.

Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home chapel, with the Rev. John Englehart officiating. Burial will follow in the Bollinger County Memorial Park Cemetery near Marble Hill.