Ruth Tinsley

Ruth Tinsley, 87, of Cape Girardeau passed away Saturday, Aug. 13, 2005, at the Lutheran Home.

She was born Feb. 9, 1918, in Oriole, daughter of Elmer and Emma Louise Bodenschatz Watkins. She and William "Bill" Tinsley were married Dec. 21, 1946. He passed away Oct. 31, 1995.

Ruth graduated from Fruitland High School and attended Southeast Missouri State University and Cape Girardeau Business School.

She retired in 1983 after working 30 years in various secretarial positions, including DeKalb and Ozarc-Gas Equipment. Ruth was a member of Lynwood Baptist Church.

Loving survivors include a brother, Eugene Watkins of St. Louis; four nephews, Don Watkins of California, Eugene Clay Watkins of Lansing, Mich., Michael Joe Watkins of St. Louis, Robert Kibler of Jackson; six nieces, Saundra Voll of St. Louis, Dorothy Blackman of Jackson, Virginia Nance of Cape Girardeau, Lois McCrosky of St. Louis, Sherry Sullenberger of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., and Gloria Francis of Clovis, Calif.

She was preceded in death by six brothers and three sisters.

The funeral will be today at 10:30 a.m. at McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau, with Dr. Derek Staples officiating. Burial will be in Lorimier Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Lynwood Baptist Church or donor's choice of Christian charities.