Ruth I. Osburn Merritt
Ruth I. Osburn Merritt passed peacefully away on October 24,
2011, from the Kansas Christian Home, Newton, Kansas.
Ruth was born to John F. and Florence Mays Osburn on
February 13, 1934, on a farm two miles northwest of Whitewater, Kansas. She was
the seventh of eight children.
Ruth graduated from Whitewater High School in Mary 1952.
During her junior year of high school, she began working Saturday's at the Bank
of Whitewater. After her graduation she began working at the bank full-time.
Ruth was a Vice-President at the Bank of Whitewater, retiring after 25 years of
service.
On October 19, 1954, Ruth married Herman F. Merritt, at her
parent's home with the Reverend Ted Roth officiating.
Ruth enjoyed putting together jig-saw puzzles, drawing in
pencil, gardening and canning. She was a member of Federated Church and served
as church treasurer for 7 years. Ruth and Herman had a vacation home at Grand
Lake, Oklahoma; where they enjoyed spending time together. A great joy in her
life was their two dachshunds, Tiny and Tiger.
Ruth suffered a massive stroke while recovering from heart
surgery at Kansas Heart Hospital in October 1999. She has been a resident of
the Kansas Christian Home for the past 6 years.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, her husband
Herman F. Merritt; her siblings: Charles Osburn, Mildred Davies, Mary June
Graham, Manny Osburn, John Osburn and Clarence "Shorty" Osburn.
She is survived by her sister Barbara A. Jackson of
Whitewater; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation with family will be held on Thursday evening from
6 - 7:30 p.m. at Lamb Funeral Home, Whitewater. The funeral service will be
held at 10:00 a.m. Friday at Federated Church of Whitewater. Interment will be
in the Whitewater Cemetery.
A memorial fund has been established for Federated Church in
care of Lamb Funeral Home, 120 S Main, Whitewater, KS, 66861.
