Ruby Mae Bunce

Ruby Mae Bunce, 100 years and 329 days old, died Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at Golden Living Center in Fredonia. She was born May 29, 1912 in Greenwood County, west of Coyville, Kansas, the fifth of ten children born to Stella M. (Knox) and Milton A. Trimmell. She attended school for 8 years at District 44 and graduated from Fall River High School in 1929. After graduating from high school, she helped take care of her younger siblings. She married Paul Barnaby at the age of 21 and together they owned and operated the Fall River Caf". They divorced and soon after, Ruby married the love of her life, Chester Loyd Bunce on May 20, 1942 in Nowata, Oklahoma. They spent most of their married life living in California, Alaska and Hawaii, where Chet worked in the oil fields and Ruby did custom sewing and tailoring. Ruby was a wonderful cook and baker, known for her delicious pies and banana pudding. Chet passed away September 6, 1983. Following Chet"s death, Ruby moved to Fredonia to be close to her sister, Verna Lea Shafer. Ruby and Verna Lea were inseparable and they loved to travel, visiting and seeing much of the U.S.A. again, as Ruby and Chet made it to 49 of the 50 states, only missing North Dakota. The girls spent 65 days one year going on bus tours all over the U.S. and through Canada so Ruby could show Verna Lea all the places she had been. Ruby was a member of the First Christian Church in Fredonia. Ruby is survived by two sisters, Verna Lea Shafer of Fredonia, KS and Marjorie Stone of Derby, KS; two nieces who she considered to be just like her own daughters, Tami Pickell of Mankato, MN and Kristi Bivens of Tulsa, OK; and one nephew who has helped to care for her in her later years, Thelbert Trimmell, along with many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at the First Christian Church in Fredonia. Inurnment will take place at a later date in the Fredonia City Cemetery. A memorial has been established in Ruby"s name with the American Cancer Society and donations can be sent to Timmons Funeral Home. Words of condolence for the family may be left on this website. Timmons Funeral Home, PO Box 168, Fredonia, KS 66736 is in charge of the arrangements.