Ruth Vernelle Roberts Kerstine, 98, of Mesa, Arizona, formerly of the Carroll, area, died Saturday, June 1, 2024 in Mesa, Arizona.
Her body has been donated to science. There will not be a memorial service.
The family requests that any memorials be given in Ruth’s honor to one’s favorite school, music and/or art school because of her dedication as a teacher, artist and published author.
Ruth Vernelle Roberts Kerstine, daughter of Thomas Price Roberts and Mary (Rees) Roberts was born May 23, 1926 on the family farm three miles from Carroll. She attended Rural School District #62 until eighth grade, graduated from Carroll High School in 1943 and attended Wayne State College, getting a two-year teaching certificate in 1945 and a BA degree in 1967. She taught in rural schools, in the Meadow Grove Elementary School and in the Carroll Elementary Public School for a total of 29 years.
On June 6, 1948 she married Wayne LeRoy Kerstine from Meadow Grove, at Zion Congregational Church near Carroll. They were married 57 years until Wayne’s death in 2005. The couple made their home on the farm where she was born and lived for 85 years and together raised two children. They traveled to Australia in 1984 and again in 1994; in 2002 she traveled to Wales with her daughter to visit her grandmother’s home, Ty Newydd.
In 2002 Wayne and Ruth moved to Apache Junction, Arizona. In 2011 Ruth moved to an independent living facility apartment and in 2021 she moved to an assisted living apartment, both located in Fellowship Square in Mesa, Arizona. In 2024 she moved to a group home in Mesa.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Carroll, Women’s Club, Saddle Club, American Legion Auxiliary and for over 80 years a member of Eastern Star #194 in Wayne. Of her many accomplishments she was most proud to write and publish a book, Dancing Through the Years with a Welsh Country Girl in 2020. (available on Amazon Books).
Ruth was a powerful, creative, intelligent, inquisitive, positive force; a natural leader with a sense of play who had a sharp memory; she was resolute and strong willed; she was a loyal friend and a loving daughter, wife, Mom, Gram and Great Grandma. She loved hot fudge sundaes, the color blue, giraffes, golf, house wrens, roses, bridge, crossword puzzles, dancing with her husband, Christmas and chocolate. She felt the most important thing in life was love.
Survivors include one daughter, Cynthia Le (Michael Olauson) of Minnetonka, Minnesota, one son, Thomas Wayne of Edmond, Oklahoma; three grandchildren, four great grandchildren, one brother-in-law, nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother and husband.
