Ruth M. Menchinger

Ruth Mildred Menchinger, 89, went home to be with her Lord on Thursday, March 13, 2003 at Woodland Terrace in Bridgman. Ruth was born on December 15, 1913 in Sawyer, Michigan, the daughter of William and Augusta Rhode. Her father died when she was ten, and she was raised by her mother and step-father, William Schmidt. She was united in marriage on July 1, 1933 to Edward R. Menchinger and they spent nearly 61 years together before his death on May 23, 1994. Ruth was employed at Heath Company at the time of her retirement where she was the administrative assistant of the Component Lab Manager and Technical Librarian. She loved to do crafts, crochet, bake, play the organ and enjoyed her children and grandchildren. Ruth was an active member of the First Church of God of St. Joseph which included among it?s founders, her step-father. She served as an officer of the Ladies Missionary Society, and officer of the St. Joseph Lianas Club and was a Cub Scout den mother when her sons were young. Preceding her in death in addition to her husband were her mother, father and sister-Anna Shotwell. Surviving are her sister-Norma Humphrey of St. Joseph; sons Roger L. (Irene) Menchinger of Baroda; James E. (Donna) Menchinger of Portage, MI; as well as five grandchildren-Cheri Kalin of St. Joseph; Karol Ann (Chris) Behrle of Niles; Jeffrey Menchinger of Costa Mesa, CA; Brent (Leigh) Menchinger of Murray, KY; and Derek (Leslie) Menchinger of Kalamazoo; and three great-grandchildren-Alan and Christopher Negron and Lucy Behrle. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:00 A.M. Monday at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph with Rev. Robert Moss officiating. Entombment will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens. Friends may call from 3-6 P.M. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the First Church of God or the Alzheimers Association of Michigan. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book on line may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.