Ruth E. Freund

Ruth E. Freund (née Trainer) was born September 19, 1943, in Wichita, KS. Ruth was the second of seven children in Irene and Dale Trainer’s family. The family lived in Wichita until 1952 when they moved to Derby, KS. She married Eldon “Nook” Freund on June 22, 1968, in St. Anne’s Catholic Church, riding to wedded bliss on the back of a refurbished antique fire truck. Eleven months later, in May 1969, they welcomed their first child, their daughter, Julie. In July of 1970, while expecting their second child, they purchased a bungalow in the Delano neighborhood of Wichita. November of the same year their first son, David, was born. In the summer of 1975, their second son, Joe, joined the family. In October of 1988, the family of five became a family of six with the birth of their last son, Daniel. After high school, Ruth sought training in healthcare, becoming a phlebotomist and later a medical technologist. She started her career at St. Joseph Hospital, where she worked for 23 years. In 1989, Mom became the supervisor of the outpatient lab within the internal medicine clinic located within the University of Kansas School of Medicine Wichita campus. She worked closely with Dr. Donna Sweet in caring for patients with HIV/AIDS. The Sweet Emergency Fund, for which the memorial was set up, is in honor of her dedication to this work (https://www.kumc.edu/school-of-medicine/campuses/wichita/patient-care/medical-practice-association-and-clinics/about/sweet-emergency-fund.html), 1010 N. Kansas, Suite 3034, Wichita, KS 67214. In line with her dedication to healthcare, Ruth was an organ donor. She will live on, having donated her eyes through the Saving Sight organization (https://saving-sight.org/about) Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Eldon “Nook” Freund; parents, Leonard Dale and Irene Trainer; son-in-law, Charles Jelks; and sister, Carol Wilbur. She is survived by her daughter, Julie Jelks; and sons, David (Nicole) Freund, Joe (Nickie) Freund, Daniel (Alicia) Freund; and grandchildren, Dale, Winston, Kaitlyn, Abigail, and Ryan. Also surviving are sister-in-law, Corrine Freund; brother-in-law, Ray Wilbur; brother, Steve (Dian) Trainer; and sisters, Loretta (John) Robertson, Anita Trainer, Donna (Mark) Tapley, and Susan (Michael) McCauley. Rosary will be at 7:00 pm, Monday, September 23, 2024, Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 am, Tuesday, September 24, 2024, both at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Services in care of Downing & Lahey West Mortuary.