Ruth Ashworth Smith

Smith, Ruth Ashworth (Monroe), 90, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend,known as “Nanny” to everyone, was called home to Jesus on Tuesday, September 4, 2012. She is predeceased by her parents, Arden and Ariel Emma Monroe, of Mattoon, IL, a sister, Helen Jane Monroe, of Mattoon, by her husband of 57 years, Donald Hoy Smith, of Wichita, and infant daughter, Jane Elizabeth Smith. Ruth is survived by a sister, Marilyn Monroe Trotta (Paul) of Columbus, IN, and by her three children: Arden Smith Murillo and Donald Hoy Smith Jr. (Patricia), of Wichita, and David Alexander “Tod” Smith (Valda) of Des Moines, IA. Grandchildren are: Ashley Smith of Phoenix, Lindey Smith Hixson (Eric) of Des Moines, Ariel Emma Murillo Hamilton (Cade) of Hickory, NC, Amy Smith of Denver, and Emily Smith, Daniel Smith, Elizabeth Smith, Katherine Smith, and William Smith, all of Wichita. Great-grandchildren are Saydee Hixson, Bryce Hixson, Hank Hixson, and Ruth Hamilton. Ruth moved from Mattoon, IL to Wichita in 1948 after marrying petroleum geologist Donald Hoy Smith on September 4. The couple raised three children. As a young mother, Ruth was active in her church circle. She worked for the public school system when her children were young, then became secretary to the building manager of the well-known “Blue Goose” building across from Wesley Medical Center. She continued to work in the Blue Goose, but assumed the position of Office Manager for the Womens Clinic, a bustling OB-Gyn practice. Later Ruth accepted an offer to move to the Wesley Medical Tower to become the private secretary to Dr. Daniel K. Roberts, MD, PhD, Head of the OB-Gyn Department at Wesley, Pathologist, and Department Chair at KU Medical Center, and she remained in that position until retirement in 1991. Retirement did not come naturally for Ruth, who loved her professional life, but her family was delighted to spend more time with their beloved mother and grandmother. A Celebration of Ruths Life will be at 1:30 P.M., Monday, September 10, 2012, Grace Presbyterian Church, 5002 E. Douglas, Wichita, KS. Visitation 5:00-7:00 P.M., Sunday, September 9, 2012, Downing Lahey Mortuary East. Donations in her memory may be made to Feed the Children, P.O. Box 36, Oklahoma City, OK 73101, feedthechildren.org, or the Harry Hynes Hospice, 313 S. Market St, Wichita, KS 67202. Downing Lahey Mortuary East.