Ruth Rueb

Ruth, Lindy, Rueb, age 91 of Overland Park, KS passed away Sunday, January 20, 2019.  Ruth, who goes by the name of Lindy, (was dubbed “Lucky Lindy”) was born May 21, 1927 in Cincinnati, Ohio.  She went by the name of Lindy because she was born on the day the aviator Charles A. Lindbergh landed his Spirit of St. Louis near Paris, completing the first solo airplane flight across the Atlantic. (Significant as later in life Lindy would become a TWA stewardess.)

Lindy grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio.  She had a rough start to life so she moved away as soon as she could at 18 years old.  She moved to New York to become a stewardess.  Though it did not work out right away, she did some modeling and secretarial work for a year.  Later that next year she got accepted with the airlines, TWA.  She flew for 10 glorious years.  She loved flying.  She often referred to those times as “her favorite time in her life.”  She would joke that she should have stayed in the skies.  She was forced into retirement once she married our dad, Dr. Alfred Rueb.  (In those days you could not continue your employment if you were married.)

Lindy was involved in Young Matrons, volunteered at the Village Presbyterian Church and the hospital, while staying home with her children, Steve and Suzy.  She went back to work when we went off to college.  She is forever grateful to Rixey Sr. for hiring her at Central States, Commodities.  The Rixey’s, Rixey Jr. and family hold a special place in her heart.  She worked there for 10 years.  She then followed Suzy around to work at the YMCA (she in the daycare) and upon Suzy’s retirement she followed her to Sylvester Powell Community Center in Mission to work at the daycare there.  She had a special bond with the children and so enjoyed her 7 years with Powell.

Lindy is survived by her children; Dr. Steve Rueb (Anne) and Suzy Willinghoff (Dan), grandchildren; Daniel Rueb, Paul Rueb, Tasha (Joel) Bockelman, Sarah Quinn and Madison Wellinghoff, great grandchildren; Skylar, Savannah and Gage.

Lindy was preceded in death by her brother George Honald.

We will all miss Mom.  She was loved by so many.  She had the quickest wit in town!  So goodbye for now “Lucky Lindy”, enjoy your next great adventure in the skies.

“To invent an airplane is nothing.  To build one is something.  But to fly is everything.”      Otto Lillenthal

A reception will follow the service at another location. Directions and information will be provided at the service.