Ruth Marie Anderson

92, former first lady of Wichita, piano teacher, and inventory manager at IFR Systems, died Tuesday, December 7. Her late husband, William D. Anderson Jr., was mayor of Wichita in 1968-69. As the mayor’s wife, Ruth was the official hostess of many events including the dedication of Century II and the 1969 inauguration in Wichita of former Kansas Governor Robert B. Docking.

Ruth was born April 21, 1929, in Pleasanton, Kansas, and grew up in Wellington. She met

Bill at Abilene Christian College in Abilene, Texas, and they were married in Wichita June 19,

1949. Bill and Ruth raised four children. Ruth actively supported the arts, especially Civic Music,

the Wichita Symphony and Music Theatre. She proudly completed her bachelor’s degree in

accounting from Wichita State in 1981. Ruth’s husband died in 2011.

She also was preceded in death by her sons William D. III and Brice Lee (Sheryl), and her daughter, Brockie Sue Headrick (Jim).

She is survived by her son Brent (Cristy), 12 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, with two more on the way.

A graveside service celebrating Ruth’s life will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, December 11, at

Resthaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Know Your Bible, c/o

Northside Church of Christ, 4545 N. Meridian, Wichita, Kansas 67204, or

www.knowyourbible.com or www.northsidecoc.org.