Ruth Townsend

DEXTER, Mo. -- Ruth Townsend, daughter of the late Clyde Burke and Bertha Triplett Burke, was born Feb. 1, 1931, in Dexter and departed this life Sunday, April 2, 2017, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau at the age of 86.

Ruth had worked at the Brown Shoe Co. and International Shoe. She was an avid Cardinals baseball fan, who lived long enough to see the Cardinals win their opening night game against the Cubs. Her family invites everyone to dress in their favorite Cardinals gear for her services today.

On Dec. 20, 1957, she was united in marriage to Clifford Townsend in Dexter. He resides at their home in Dexter.

Besides her husband, she is survived by a son, John (Eva) Mince of Titus, Alabama; two daughters, Connie (Dave) Wills of Cape Girardeau and Linda (Kerry) Klaproth of Jackson; a brother, Earl Burke of Six Lakes, Michigan; two sisters, Mable Deno of Burton, Michigan, and Velma Glenn of Davison, Michigan; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Paul, Burl and James Burke; and two sisters, Thelma Sullivan and Martha Burke.

Friends may call from 10 a.m. until noon today at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

A funeral service will be at noon today in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel, with the Rev. James Malloy officiating. Interment will be in Triplett Cemetery.