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Virginia Ruth Walker, a 96 year old Trenton, MO resident, passed away at 11:41 p.m. on Saturday, January 31, 2015 at the Sunnyview Nursing Home in Trenton.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, January 6, 2015 at the First Christian Church in Trenton. Pastor Mike Moore will officiate. Burial will be in the Resthaven Memorial Gardens in Trenton. Open visitation will be all day Thursday at Whitaker-Eads Funeral Home in Trenton.
Mrs. Walker was born September 25, 1918 in Cleopatra, MO, the second child of Cleo R. and Edna Jane (Stocklos) Lewis. She graduated from Princeton High School in 1936. Determined to be the first member of her family to obtain a college degree, she worked her way through William Jewel College. Despite taking a year off to teach to earn money to complete her education, Ruth graduated on time with her class in 1940 from William Jewel College with Bachelor’s Degree in English. She was active in the International Relations Committee and the YWCA.
In 1942 while working at Naval Supply Depot New Orleans, she married a Navy Lieutenant Frank T. Walker. They were married 53 years and, for 37 years, lived on a small family farm, north of Princeton. They had one son Tom, a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and a nuclear-trained submarine officer.
Ruth taught at Princeton High School for 27 years; she taught English, Latin and Composition and many of her students found that she provided a quality of education unequalled in their college experience. In 2009, she was recognized as a Princeton High School outstanding alumna. She was the driving force behind establishing the National Honor Society at Princeton High School.
Ruth was a member of the Rotary Club of Trenton for 20 years; she was a multiple Paul Harris Fellow of The Rotary International Foundation and financially supported a number of humanitarian grant projects benefitting children in the United States and Mexico. She was Club Historian for over 10 years. Her son Tom is Rotary District Governor-Elect for the State of New Mexico and west Texas.
Additionally, she was a member of P.E.O. for over 50 years and served as Chapter President on a number of occasions. Ruth was also a member of the Business Professional Women. She was a member and very active in the First Christian Church, serving as an elder, Sunday School teacher, participant in C.W.F. group, and the 50/50 class.
Ruth was active in politics being a member of the Grundy County Republican Women. She served a couple of terms as Republican Committeewomen, out polling her husband Frank who was running as Committeeman.
Ever the Renaissance woman, she enjoyed international travel visiting Europe, the United Kingdom and Ireland, Israel, Egypt, Peru and Ecuador. She toured Machu Picchu in Peru’s Andes Mountains when she was 91 years of age. For a number of years Ruth actively participated in the area Shakespeare club. She always enjoyed working crossword puzzles.
She is survived by her son Tom, a resident of Albuquerque, NM; and a sister in law, Joann LaCerte of Olathe, KS.
Memorial contributions are suggested to The Rotary Foundation or the First Christian Church of Trenton; they can be left at or mailed to Whitaker-Eads Funeral Home, 813 Custer, Trenton, MO 64683.
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