Ruth M. Wilburn

Ruth Marie Mears Wilburn was born January 21, 1910 to Charles B and Eva I Selleck Mears in their farm home 3 miles west of Beloit. She went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Thursday morning December 23, 2010. Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Hugh J. Wilburn; her brother and his wife;, Paul and Helen VanPelt Mears. She is survived by her daughter, Naomi Evajean Chase; son-in law Max Chase; two grandsons, Michael M and David S Chase; many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Ruth weighed 9lbs. at birth but was sick a lot and only weighed 13.5 lbs. at age one. When her father died in November, 1911, the family moved to the Selleck farm south of Simpson and lived next door to Eva's parents, Arthur and Julia C (Murphy) Selleck.

Ruth grew up in the Simpson and Beloit areas. She attended school at Sunny Side on the Selleck farm, Simpson Schools, Beloit High School, and Manhattan High School, K-State College, and Ft. Hays State College. She taught at Pleasant Valley School near the Mears farm in 1933-34. A young man named Hugh Wilburn bought her box at the school box supper the fall of 1933. Three years later on September 6, 1936, they were married at the Beloit Methodist Church. They celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary. Hugh died in August 2003, shortly before their 67th anniversary. Ruth taught the 5th and 6th grade from 1934 to 1936 at Asherville. She later taught school in Barnard, St. John's Elementary and at the Kansas Girls' Industrial School.

In the late 1930's when jobs were scarce, Hugh and Ruth moved to Kansas City where their daughter was born in July, 1940. They moved back to Mitchell County, Kansas in the early 1940's and began farming with the help of her brother Paul and her mother. They lived on farms west Beloit until moving in 1972 to the home they built in Beloit. Ruth lived there until 2 weeks before her death.

Ruth led a very active life. Hugh and she were Paul Harris Fellows in Rotary. They brought in many new and renewal memberships to the Community Concerts association. Ruth substantially increased the membership of the Mitchell County Hospital Auxiliary as membership chairperson. She was an active member of West Beloit EHU, American Cancer Society, Rural Ann's, Methodist Fellowship Build, Beloit Church Women United, WSCS president in 1972, and Alpha Federated Club as well as a supporter of schools, teachers and children. She has driven wheat trucks, raised large gardens, raised chickens, visited friends in nursing homes, held school picnics on the farm, delivered Meals on Wheels, taught Sunday School and been involved in many other church and community activities. She was chosen UMW Woman of the Year in 1979 by ladies of her church. In 1977, Ruth and Hugh went on a People to People trip to Russia, England, and Switzerland.

Family and friends were important. Thanksgiving, Christmases and Easters were celebrated with big family gatherings and lots of homegrown food and homemade meals. Memorial Day brought the Selleck-Mears family reunion with a potluck dinner at Chautauqua Park. Their home was open to friends. Friends of her daughter enjoyed picnics, slumber parties, games, and riding horses. Later she would invite friends' children out to play when her grandsons came for a visit. In town the neighbor children came to be entertained and play with Ruth. When they grew up, she watched children on the school ground playing and waved to them. She enjoyed playing dominos with her grandsons. She was fond of her son-in-law and they loved teasing each other. She didn't know a stranger, always welcoming newcomers to the community and making people feel at home. She had a smile and a wink for everyone, even the health care workers when poked her with needles. She enjoyed life and appreciated what people did for her.

For being a sickly baby, Ruth persevered, celebrating her 100th birthday on January 21, 2010 and almost making to her 101st. She lived a long life during which she saw many events and changes in the world.



Funeral services are at 10:30 AM Wednesday, December 28 at the Beloit First United Methodist Church. Visitation will be from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Tuesday at the McDonald Funeral Home. Memorials may be given to the Church, the Mitchell County Historical Society, the NCK Wellness Center, or Donor's Choice.