Ruth Marie Linnenbringer

Ruth Marie (Smith) Linnenbringer, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away on May 26, 2024, at the home of her daughter, where she had resided for the past ten years. Ruth was born on March 2, 1928 to Connie Evelyn (Fakes) Smith and Charles Warren Smith, Sr., in Sugar Creek, Missouri. Ruth was the youngest of eight children, having five sisters and two brothers. She lived in Sugar Creek until 1946, when she graduated from William Chrisman High School, then lived in Independence, Missouri until 2010, when she moved to Overland Park, Kansas. In her early adult life, Ruth worked for Crown Drug Store and Bundschu's Department Store on the Independence Square. In her later working years, she was employed by Remington Arms (DuPont), Continental Oil Company, then retiring in 1988 from Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company. Ruth was very outgoing, always reaching out to help someone in need. She was a beautiful, kind and caring person and a friend to all who knew her (affectionately known as Mama Ruth to most of our local friends) drawing people to her like a magnet. Ruth married her high school sweetheart, Harold Baird, following high school graduation, and of that union her daughter, Connie Lee, was born. They later divorced. Ruth then met and married Ellis Linnenbringer on June 4, 1952. They were a very social couple and were happily married for 53 years, until his death on March 10, 2005. Both were long-time members of St. Luke's United Church of Christ in Independence, Missouri. Ruth was predeceased by her husband, her parents, all seven of her siblings and her son-in-law, William R. (Bill) Trotter. Left to mourn her loss is her daughter, Connie Baird Trotter, many nieces and nephews on both the Smith and Linnenbringer sides of the family, as well as many close friends. I will miss you forever and ever, my beautiful, caring mother, confidant and best friend. We would like to thank Pastor Paul Emily of St. Luke's UCC in Independence, Missouri, who visited Ruth often, and Crossroads Hospice of Lenexa for their dedication to the home care of Ruth..