Ruth Shoptaugh Kean

Ruth Eileen Eberhardt Kean passed away peacefully among family in her home on October 23, 2024. Ruth was born in New Orleans in 1933, attended The Academy of the Sacred Heart on St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, and attended LSU, where she met and married James D. Shoptaugh. After raising her four children, she married Wilbur Amiss Kean of Baton Rouge in 1978. Ruth is predeceased by her parents, Ruth Winter and John Eberhardt, Wilbur Amiss Kean, her husband of 35 years, and her granddaughter Ashley Shoptaugh Pharr. She is survived by her four children, Catherine Shoptaugh Landry, James David Shoptaugh (Jon Jackson), John Eberhardt Shoptaugh (Bridget), and Dr. Mark Charles Shoptaugh, Sr. (Anna), and her grandchildren, Dr. Mark Shoptaugh, Jr. (Jennifer), Riley Landry (Rebecca), Timothy Shoptaugh (Susan), Matthew Shoptaugh (Ashley), Benjamin Shoptaugh, Katheleen Shoptaugh, Eric Landry (Aubrey), and Jacob Shoptaugh (Amber), as well as a number of great grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews, along with her stepchildren and step-grandchildren.

Ruthie Kean was beloved by her community and was a devoted volunteer. She taught in both Catholic and public schools in Baton Rouge before becoming a full-time tennis professional. She left a profound legacy of service, kindness, and passion for her family, friends, and the Baton Rouge community. Ruthie was a founding member of Attic Trash and Treasure (formerly Inner Wheel of Baton Rouge) and contributed tirelessly to projects such as the annual Attic Trash and Treasure Sale, alongside many other local initiatives. Her presence was cherished by all who knew her, and her impact on her community is everlasting. In appreciation of her years of service to the Baton Rouge area, Ruthie was honored by The Emerge Center as a Baton Rouge Area Volunteer Activist in November of 2023.

Her family became affectionately known as the “Shoptaugh Nation,” and Ruthie began a lineage of influential tennis enthusiasts whose contributions to Baton Rouge and Louisiana tennis have been profound since the 1970s. Ruthie, the matriarch of the Shoptaugh clan, played a pivotal role in shaping the Baton Rouge tennis community, contributing to the founding and growth of the City Park Tennis Center, Bocage Racquet Club, and Baton Rouge Country Club. Her dedication to tennis as a sport, both on and off the court, made her a respected figure and a mentor to countless players across Louisiana.

One of the first female tennis professionals in Louisiana, Ruthie was an accomplished athlete and a passionate advocate for the game. She was a tennis parent to many, not only guiding her own children and grandchildren in their tennis pursuits, but also extending her mentorship and support to other young athletes. She instilled a love for the game in her children, who grew up to become remarkable players, active parents, and dedicated volunteers in the tennis world, perpetuating Ruthie’s legacy of service and passion for the sport. In recognition of her countless contributions, Ruthie was inducted into the Louisiana Tennis Association’s Tennis Hall of Fame in December of 2022.

Ruthie’s commitment to volunteerism, her achievements in tennis, and her devotion to family have left an indelible mark on her community. Her warmth, generosity, and dedication to causes in which she believed, will be fondly remembered and greatly missed.

Visitation and memorial service will be held at Rabenhorst Funeral Home at 825 Government Street on Friday, November 8, 2024. Visitation will be at 10:00 A.M., with a memorial service at 11:00 A.M. and reception to follow at Rabenhorst.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to your favorite charity, or to Attic Trash and Treasure. To view and sign the online guestbook, please visit www.rabenhorst.com.