Ruth Eileen Hetherington

Hetherington, Ruth Eileen Thompson, 90, was called to her heavenly home on Friday, April 19, 2013. The visitation will be at Downing Lahey Mortuary East on Monday, April 22, from 6:30-8:30 pm. Her life celebration is at 1 pm on Wednesday, April 24, at Heartland Community Church, 457 S Woodlawn Blvd, Wichita, followed by interment. Ruth was born on a farm in Valley Center, Kansas, on January 9th, 1923, the fourth of six siblings. She married Hugh Robert Hetherington at First Baptist Church in Valley Center on December 23, 1943, following the Christmas program. They raised their three children on a farm in rural Towanda. Ruth, primarily a homemaker, also worked as a teacher, dental assistant, medical assistant, nurse aide, activity director at a nursing home, and retired in 1992 as Clerical Division Director from the Bi-County Health Department in El Dorado. Ruth was involved in many community affairs and was the first female member and president on the USD 375 Board of Education. She loved Jesus, her family, playing the piano and organ, watching sports, word and number puzzles, and attending her grandchildrens games and performances. In retirement, Ruth enjoyed volunteering, especially playing hymns at retirement homes. She and Hugh visited much of the United States together and attended professional baseball games at twenty-one big league parks. They were married two days shy of 58 years, when Hugh went home to glory on December 21, 2001. Ruth was also preceded in death by parents, George and Delphia Thompson, and siblings, Georgia, Henry, Charles, Dale, and Dorothy. She is survived by her daughter, Cheryl Hetherington; daughter, Marcia Brown and husband Chris; and son, John Hetherington and wife Rolaine; grandchildren Sarah Pohlenz, Kristen Brown, Erin Frost and husband Ryan, Lauren Pohlenz, Braden Brown, Anna Hetherington, and John Robert Hetherington; and great-grandson Hugh Ellis Frost. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established with the following faith-based ministries: Mosaic, 2120 E 9th Ave, Winfield, KS 67156; Wichita Young Life (Circle District), 6505 E Central, #318, Wichita, KS 67206; and The Salvation Army, 350 N Market, Wichita, KS 67202. Share tributes online at: www.dlwichita.com