COONROD, Ruth Lavon (Blockcolsky) - b. October 10, 1928 - d. December 8, 2011

[patyrn]

Ruth Lavon Coonrod of Manhattan, Kansas, age 83, died December 8, 2011 at Meadowlark Hills Collins House.  She was born October 10, 1928 in Manhattan, the daughter of Foster and Margaret Eunice (Colwell) Blockcolsky.

Mrs. Coonrod grew up in the Zeandale Community and graduated from Manhattan High School.  On June 4, 1949 at the First United Methodist Church in Manhattan, she was married to Carl M. Coonrod.  She had lived in Wichita, Elk Falls, and Winfield, Kansas prior to returning to Manhattan.  She was a member of the Methodist and Christian churches all her life.  Mrs. Coonrod was devoted to her family and loved spending time with her children and grandchildren.  She enjoyed bowling for many years in several different leagues.

Survivors include her sons, Carl F. Coonrod and wife, Donna of Wichita, Kansas and Randall R. Coonrod and wife, Jacquie of Wichita, Kansas; siblings, Imogene Farley of Manhattan, Kansas, Donna Simpson of Carson City, Nevada, and Bill Blockcolsky of North Pole, Alaska; grandchildren, Sandra (Steve) Ackley of Wilmington, Delaware, Christopher Coonrod of El Dorado, Kansas, Nicole (Justin) Parks of Wichita, Kansas, Laurie (Robert) Cassidy of Manhattan, Kansas, and Morgan Coonrod of Kansas City, Kansas; great-grandchildren, Alexander and Nicholas Ackley, Liliana and Samantha Parks, and Parker Cassidy; three step-grandchildren and five step-great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl M. Coonrod on March 4, 2022; a granddaughter, Kristin Coonrod; and a brother, Robert Blockcolsky.

Funeral services were held on December 12, 2011 at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Chapel with Reverend Kay Scarbrough officiating.  Graveside services were held at the Pleasant View Cemetery near Fort Scott, Kansas with Pastor Glen Duderstadt officiating.  Memorials have been established with Alzheimer's Disease Association, Kansas State University Foundation to establish the Ruth L. Coonrod General Scholarship Fund or the Community Foundation of Kansas for the Cato Restoration Project.  Contributions may be left in care of Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.  Online condolences may be left for the family at www.ymlfuneralhome.com.

(published in the Wichita Eagle on December 10, 2011)

[jarhead]

It saddens me to hear this. I worked for Carl and Ruth for almost 9 years. Ruth was a very kind, gracious lady.