Ruth Armitage-Kempf

Formerly of Lansing area

Age 91, passed away peacefully on July 21, 2017 in Fenton.  Born Inez Ruth Wallace to W.D. and Inez Wallace on February 10, 1926 in Lansing, MI.  Ruth was a resilient and dynamic lady, involved with her family, as well as numerous civic and professional activities. Her father was a school superintendent, so Ruth moved throughout Michigan in her youth.  She attended elementary school in Nashville, junior high in Coral, then graduated as the valedictorian of Hanover High in 1943.  She earned both BS and BA degrees from Central Michigan University and pursued graduate studies at Michigan State.  Through the years, she lived in Ionia, Grand Rapids, Mason, Lansing, Grand Ledge and Fenton.

Ruth’s professional life and volunteer positions reflected her avid interest in church, family, education, history and community.  She taught in White Cloud and Ionia High Schools, worked for the state Girl Scout Council, served as the Education Director and Volunteer Coordinator for Impression 5 Science Museum, was interim Director of the RE Olds Transportation Museum and was instrumental in establishing the Michigan Museum of Land Surveying.  Upon retirement, she volunteered at the Michigan History Museum and the airport’s RSVP team.  Through the years, Ruth was active in her local churches (serving as an elder and participating in numerous committees), PTAs/PTOs, AAUW/College Club, 4-H, Mason’s Coventry Players, Mason Area Historical Society, Friends of Turner-Dodge House, Grand Ledge Area Historical Society, Grand Ledge Garden Club, Victorian Society and anything else that sounded like fun!  Ruth had a passion for travel, covering most of the US and much of Europe.  She even rode a camel in the Egyptian desert.

Ruth was preceded in death by her three husbands – Robert Dancer (1961), George E. Armitage (1986) and Alvin Kempf (2015), as well as her parents and her two younger sisters (Shirley Lorencen and Willabell “Billie” Barto).  She is survived by four children – Mary (Nicholas) Waitkunas, Mark Armitage, Holly (Alan) Houtman and Patricia (Steven) Banner, grandchildren Roger and Rebecca Waitkunas, Audrey Armitage, William and Jacob Houtman, Michael and Kyle Banner, plus many loving nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 1, 2017, at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel, with The Rev. Charles Herrick officiating.  Her family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Monday, July 31, 2017.  Memorial contributions may be made to Friends of the Turner-Dodge House in memory of Ruth Armitage-Kempf.