Dorothy Ruegsegger

DOROTHY INEZ (GIBBS) RUEGSEGGER

Dorothy Inez (Gibbs) Ruegsegger, 87, of Olathe, Kansas, died May 24, 2009. Her faith and family were the foundation of a charming life. Daughter, wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, sister-in-law, aunt cousin and friend were all titles she proudly held. Dorothy performed all of these roles with great passion, love and delight. She wanted to be remembered as one who passionately loved and protected her family, and whose interest in varied activities added spice to her family and her communities in which she lived. She was loved and admired by all who knew her.

She was born the daughter of William and Lulu (Parrish) Gibbs on July 19, 1921, in Barnard, Kansas. She was a graduate of Barnard High School and earned a teaching certificate in education at Kansas Wesleyan University. While at Kansas Wesleyan, she was a member of Gamma Delta Gamma sorority. Following college, she was an educator in Gypsum County rural school until she married the late Lester J. Ruegsegger in Victoria, Texas in 1942. The couple started their married life during World War II and lived in Sarasota, Florida; Wendover, Utah; Emporia, Kansas; Salina, Kansas for over twenty-six years; Elmira, New York; and Topeka, Kansas. Mr. Ruegsegger was the Controller and Business Manager at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, held the same position at Elmira College in New York, and finally was appointed the Executive Director of the United Methodist Retirement Home in Topeka, Kansas. After his death, Dorothy worked for many years at the Yarn Shop in Topeka, Kansas.

Dorothy loved handwork, including needlework, crewel embroidery, and weaving. A lover of cats and dogs, she also enjoyed watching birds and growing a wide-array of beautiful flowers. One of her favorite sayings was: The Kiss of the Sun is for Pardon; the Song of the Birds is for Mirth: You are nearer God's Heart in the garden, than anywhere else on earth, and Prayer is the Unseen link of the Soul of Man to the Spirit of God.

She was an active member of various Methodist churches, including the First United Methodist Church in Barnard, Kansas, University United Methodist Church in Salina, Kansas, and Countryside United Methodist Church in Topeka, Kansas. Mrs. Ruegsegger was a Sunday school teacher, Director of Education at University United Methodist Church and a member of Kiwanis Queens.

She was predeceased by her husband of thirty-four years, Lester, in 1976. She was the last of her siblings to survive, predeceased in death by her sisters, Eileen Darling and Wilma Kidwell, and her brothers, Dean Gibbs, Floyd Gibbs, and Beryl Gibbs. Surviving are her daughters, Judy Tull (Dennis) of Olathe, Mary Fontinha (Peter) of New Castle, Delaware, and son, Martin Ruegsegger (Cynthia) of Charlotte, North Carolina. She leaves seven grandchildren, Rick Walle (Ginger), Castle Rock, Colorado, Cindy Unruh (Dewayne), Salina, Kansas, Jason Spangler, New York City, New York, Lucas Spangler, Chicago, Illinois, Christopher Ruegsegger, Buford, Georgia, Carissa Liebowitz (Adam), Sewanee, Georgia, and Tasha Ruegsegger, Smyrna, Georgia. Also surviving is one great-granddaughter, Annie Unruh, Salina, Kansas.

A memorial service for Dorothy will be held at the University United Methodist Church in Salina, Kansas on June 13, 2009 at 2:00 pm. Her remains will be interred next to her late husband at Roselawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Salina. The family will receive friends at the Church after the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Aldersgate Village, 7220 SW Asbury Drive, Topeka, Kansas 66614 or Good Samaritan Society Olathe, 20705 West 151st Street, Olathe, Kansas 66061.