Ruth Louise Starke Burkhead
March 20, 1916 - August 7, 2016 - age 100

Ruth Burkhead was a long time resident of Arcadia, Michigan and Evanston, Illinois and Holmes Beach, Florida and Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota. Since July 2015 she was been lovingly cared for at Colby's Orchard House, Frankfort, MI. She always had a smile and the room was always brighter with her presence. She will be remembered in our hearts forever.

Ruth graduated from Arcadia High School, in a town founded by her great grandfather. She was a graduate of Michigan State University '38 where she was named to Mortar Board and Tower Guard academic societies and in her graduating year crowned Queen. She moved to the east coast to attend Johns Hopkins and complete her dietetics degree. Upon graduation she worked at Monmouth Memorial Hospital in Long Branch, New Jersey where she met Howard, a family practice doctor. Married in 1943 they lived happily and raised family in Long Branch, NJ and Evanston, Il. In retirement they enjoyed both Arcadia, MI and Holmes Beach, FL.

While raising a family in Evanston, IL Ruth was active in local education, library and church organizations. She was President of the Evanston PTA, board member of the Evanston Public Library and Representative to the Presbytery and to Mission Council and General Council of Presbyterian Church. Her vanguard belief in recycling led to creation of the first of many future annual used book sales in Evanston and Arcadia.

Ruth and Howard loved to host international students attending nearby Northwestern University and caught the travel bug. They traveled extensively including India, Sweden, Spain, Greece, Ireland, Panama, Bahamas, Japan and they even climbed the Great Wall of China.
In retirement, Ruth founded the Arcadia Historical Society and was a volunteer at the Artist Guild of Anna Maria Island (AGAMI), Island Players Theatre and Anna Maria Island Public Library. She was a member of the Roser Memorial Community Church in Florida.

Her joys included painting and corresponding with her many friends around the world. When not volunteering she could often be found reading in the local library.

Those left to treasure her memory are son Curtis Burkhead and his wife Marcy of Florida, daughters Judith Weiner of Michigan and Nancy Hauschild of Minnesota and son Bob Burkhead and his wife Gloria of Hawaii. In addition Ruth is survived by six grandchildren and two great grandchildren -- Davita Burkhead-Weiner of Michigan, John B. Hauschild, his wife Rachel and sons Henry and Samuel of Minnesota, James Hauschild and his wife Katherine of Minnesota, Shannon Burkhead of California, Matt Burkhead of Arizona and Jake Burkhead of California.

Preceded in death by her parents Robert Starke and Anna Leuker Starke, her husband of 55 years, Howard, her brother Henry “Hank” Starke and two son-in-laws John Hauschild and Harold Weiner.

Family members celebrated her life in a memorial service at Pilgrim Home Cemetary, Arcadia, Michigan.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to Friends of the Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive Holmes Beach, FL 34217 941-778-6341

For Ruth - remember to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, Ruth did.

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