Ruth Carol Kirchner

Ruth Carol Kirchner, 69, passed away on April 27, 2013, after a struggle with cancer. Her family cared for and dignified her with tender love and respect, never leaving her side during her illness. This great woman deserved this and much more. She was born on December 19, 1943, in Elnora, to William Francis and Ruth Eck Hannah. She is survived by her loving husband of 51 years, George Anthony (Tony) Kirchner. As a teenager, he hitchhiked from Washington to Elnora for the chance to catch her eye at the local skating rink. He succeeded. They were married on November 24, 1961. Ruth Carol is lovingly remembered by daughters Hannah Ruth Kirchner and Heidi Kirchner Petry; son-in-law Donald Petry; sister Kathleen Joyce Green; and grandsons Reuben Scott Carrico, George Adam Carrico, and Anthony Scott Kirchner. She is predeceased by her son Scott Anthony Kirchner, as well as brother John Byron Hannah, sister Dorothy Fern Ketchem, and her parent. Ruth Carol was a beautiful, intelligent, practical, and headstrong woman who loved her family fiercely and called life as she saw it. She was a skilled homemaker, a great Southern cook whose pumpkin pie, wilted lettuce, and penuche fudge had no e...[more]

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l, and whose canning of pickles, tomatoes, and green beans will be greatly missed . The family will soldier on, but it never will eat as well again. She was a skilled seamstress and a master with crafts. Every aspect of home bears her loving touch, and every holiday experience was heightened by her love of food and festivity. She loved household devices and any Ronco TV utensil. It will be interesting to see whether her kitchen yields a set of Ginsu knives. Her attraction to sundry appliances and gadgets was always a cause for amusement. She was the rock of our existence, and we love her and miss her deeply. She would roll her eyes and tell us to get on with it. In efforts to do just that, visitation is scheduled at Ed Lee Mortuary on Tuesday, April 30, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. A funeral service takes place at Ed Lee Mortuary on Wednesday, May 1, at 11 a.m., with burial at St. John Cemetery in Washington. The family is happy should anyone choose to give flowers. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations in her name to go to the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org).