Mary Ruth Schendel

Mary Ruth Treat Schendel, Aberdeen Village, Olathe, KS, died July 20, 2012 at the age of 97. Mary Ruth was born April 12, 1915, in Anadarko, OK, to Rev. Harry and Katherine Ellis Treat. Her parents were missionaries, working with Kiowa and Apache tribes. Mary Ruth graduated from Ottawa University, Ottawa, KS, in l936. She married Robert Ryle Schendel, also an Ottawa graduate, in February of l937. She was a high school English and music teacher in Oklahoma after their marriage.

During the military years of WW II Mary Ruth and Bob lived in Arkansas and Washington, DC, returning to Kansas, in l947 to found Schendel Pest Control, (now Schendel Pest Services) in Topeka. Mary Ruth had a career of service to the church as an active member of First Baptist Church of Topeka, KS, and later in Sun City AZ, at Bellevue Heights Baptist Church. She served in officer positions with the American Baptist Women’s Society, Moderator of the Bellevue Heights church, and as a member for nine years of the national American Baptist Foreign Mission Society Board. In 1973 she served as the first woman elected as president of the Kansas Baptist Convention, state-wide denominational body. She was an able and respected leader, beloved Sunday School teacher, and contributor to ecumenical relationships among churches of various denominations, including a term as President of Church Women United in Kansas. At her death, Mary Ruth was a member of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, of Overland Park, KS.

Mary Ruth had a keen appreciation for and love of education, which (with Bob) she passed to her children, all of whom have graduate degrees. In addition to her short career as a public school teacher, Mary Ruth served for 14 years on the Board of Trustees of Bacone College, in Muskogee, OK, and a term on the Board at Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City. She and Bob were both honored with the “Outstanding Alumni” awards by Ottawa University.

Mrs. Schendel was preceded in death by her parents, sister Alice Treat Hall, husband Robert R. Schendel, and by her oldest daughter Jo Potter. She is survived by four children, Nancy Morgan (Bruce), Kansas City, MO; Jane Baum (Hans-Peter), Wurzburg, Germany; Sarah Schendel, Toledo, OH; Robert Schendel (Cindy), Overland Park, KS; and son-in-law John Potter, Cramer, IL. She leaves 7 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Her family cherishes many gifts from Mary Ruth, including love of music, learning, faith, open-mindedness, generosity, role model of service, and courage in facing the challenges of old age.

Services: 2:30 PM, August 18, Prairie Baptist Church, 75th Street and Roe, Prairie Village, KS. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to: Bacone College, 2299 Old Bacone Rd., Muskogee, OK 74403 and Central Baptist Theological Seminary 6601 Monticello Rd., Shawnee, KS 66226.