Ruth Martin

Olga Ruth Chitty Martin, 94, died at her home near the old Bigelow townsite by Frankfort, KS on Thursday, July 7, 2016. She was born on October 5, 1921, near Bigelow, KS, to Wyman and Elizabeth Lucas Chitty. She attended Bigelow Grade School and graduated from Blue Rapids High School. After high school graduation, she attended Kansas State University at Manhattan, KS, and graduated from Kansas State Teachers College at Emporia, KS with a degree in education. She began her teaching career in Dodge City, KS, where she met and married her husband, William G. Martin, on May 23, 1948. They lived in several Iowa and Kansas towns and for many years in Cheyenne, WY before retiring to the farm by Bigelow in 1974. Ruth was a special person to many. She had an amazing collection of stories about growing up on the farm and about early times in the Bigelow, Frankfort, and Blue Rapids areas, which she loved to tell and others loved to hear. Having friends come visit at her farm was one of her greatest joys. She loved playing cards — pitch, cribbage, pinochle and bridge, feeding the birds and living on the farm. Amos and Andy, Ruth’s two black cats, who found her when they were abandoned, were perhaps the loves of her life in her later years. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and her sister, Eunice Kaump. She is survived by her extended family and the many friends who were a cherished part of her life. A private graveside service will be held at a future date. A memorial fund has been established and will be designated later by the family. Contributions may be sent in care of Kinsley Mortuary. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ruth Martin, please visit our flower store.