Ruth Wendelken Phelps

"Ruth Phelps, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend died Thursday, September 7, 2017, at the age of 102.  Born in McComb, MS., to Ruth and George Wendelken, Ruth grew up in Hammond along with her brother Henry and sister Marion. After attending Southeastern Louisiana College, she was a legal secretary in Hammond where she met her husband Kenneth who was in town as a geophysicist with an oil exploration crew. They lived in 24 towns in Louisiana and Texas as Kenneth continued his work for Standard Oil. Eventually, they settled in Houston, TX, and then moved to New Orleans. Upon Kenneth's retirement, they moved to the Broadmoor neighborhood of Baton Rouge in 1971, where they lived a full life with friends and family and were enriched by their involvement at Broadmoor Baptist Church.  Ruth and Kenneth were fond of dancing to Big Band music and playing bridge. Ruth will be remembered for her zest for life, her fierce loyalty to family and friends, and her love of laughter, good food and good people. She is survived by her three daughters Kay (Buzz) Davis of Tucson, AZ, Dale (David) Williams of Winchester, VA, and Marion (John Mulliken) Phelps of Pompano Beach, FL; four grandchildren Derek (Camille Collins) Williams of Herndon, VA, April (Tito Hernandez) Williams of San Jose, CA, Brett (Jess) Davis of Tucson, AZ, and Travis Mulliken of Pompano Beach, FL; six young great grandchildren Autumn Williams, Kai Davis, and Samara, Sierra, Josue and Sage Hernandez; two adult great grandchildren Joseph and Madeline Collins; nieces Linda (Gray) Sample of Tampa, FL, and Janice (Rick) Tyler of Crestview, FL; nephews Max Snyder of Pueblo, CO, and Loren Snyder of Haslett, TX.  She also is survived by a dear group of friends, including special friend Laura Donahue. Ruth had a wonderful group of caregivers whose dedication and love supported and cheered her. The family thanks all her caregivers, the staff at Amedisys Hospice Care and Serenity Sitters LLC and her many friends and neighbors who provided love and support. She was preceded in death by her parents Ruth and George Wendelken, her husband Kenneth Dale Phelps, their infant son Kenneth Dale, sister Marion Corkern, brother-in-law Iddo Corkern, nieces Janet and Patricia Corkern, brother Henry Wendelken, sister-in-law Eva Mae Wendelken; Kenneth's parents Milo and Mary Phelps of Pratt, KS, sister-in-law Kathryn Snyder and her husband John Snyder, also of Pratt, KS. A service will be held at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East, 11000 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge on Saturday, September 16, 2017. Visitation begins at 10 a.m., and a service led by the Rev. David Chelette begins at 11 a.m.  A graveside service at 2:00 pm follows at Green Lawn Cemetery, Pecan Street, in Hammond. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank (P.O. Box 45830, Baton Rouge, LA 70895, brfoodbank.org) or the O'Brien House (446 N. 12th St., Baton Rouge, LA 70802, obrienhouse.org).