Ruth Ann VanOver, age 84 years, 6 months, and 27 days, of Stearns, Kentucky passed away Thursday, January 6, 2022, at the Somerset Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Somerset, Kentucky and was placed in the care of Hickman-Strunk Funeral Home.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, January 12, 2022, at the Hickman-Strunk Funeral Home with Bro. Braxton King officiating. Burial followed in the Troxell Cemetery.
She was born June 10, 1937, in Strunk, Kentucky to Charles Newton King and Delphia Spradlin King.
Preceding her in death were her parents, a son, James William VanOver II, a daughter, Pamela VanOver, brothers, Lloyd and Coye, sisters, Virginia, Georgia, Delta, and Betty, and a great grandson, James William VanOver.
Survivors include her devoted husband, Dr. Gilbert VanOver, whom she married November 5, 1954, sons, Gilbert VanOver, III and his wife, Phyllis, and Vaughn Vanover and his wife, Suzanne, daughter, Sheila Joyner and her husband, Hector, daughter-in-law, Joyce VanOver, thirteen grandchildren, twenty-seven great grandchildren, brother, Logan King and his wife, Sheila, and sisters, Myrtle Burkett and Wanda Gregory and her husband, Donald.
Ruth's greatest accomplishment is the family legacy she created and will leave behind. She loved having slumber and tea parties with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She taught each of them the importance of manners and etiquette from napkin on your lap to holding up your pinky!!
Her hobbies were bird watching, reading Danielle Steele books, and working in her flowers.Ruth was a member of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels and the Laurel Heights Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, where she was Past Worthy Matron. She was also a dedicated member of the National Republican Committee. As another way to serve the county's youth, Ruth had served as a member of the McCreary County School Board.
Her favorite pastime was as they call it, "junking" with her special niece and best friend, Kathy Waters.
She will forever be remembered for her kind heart, beautiful smile, advice giving skills (whether you needed it or not), and her political opinions. Ask any person who ever visited her home, they will tell you; anyone would not be at her house for five minutes before you were being asked "do you want something to eat"? Even if your answer was no, you ate anyway. She always said "noone will ever leave my house hungry".
As a military wife, she traveled the world with the love of her life. During their travels she managed many military Officer Club's. After their many travels they retired in McCreary County in 1976 to be with family.
Upon their return she worked at the Cumberland Falls Restaurant, Dupont Lodge, Whitley City Motel, and Woodson Bend Resort. She decided she was ready to become an entrepreneur. She wanted to give youth an opportunity for employment and help mold future business leaders, all while leaving her mark as a leading business owner of McCreary County. The first restaurant she owned was The Dipsy Doodle in Pine Knot, she went on to open the county's first fast food chain restaurant Druther's / Dairy Queen. Not satisfied with all of her success as a business owner, Ruth began promoting into Executive Leadership positions. She became the first female Area Supervisor, Regional Director, and finally becoming Vice President of the Druther's Restaurant Company. After retiring from Druther's Executive Management, she increased her ownership of county businesses by purchasing The Blue Heron, and finally opened The Scott County Family Restaurant.
She was inducted into the National Food Service Industry Hall of Fame and the Who's Who of the National Restaurant Association.
She finally retired to enjoy life with her best friend so they could enjoy each other and family. Their life was filled with so much love, laughter, and loyalty to each other. It was a true love story for all to remember.
Hickman-Strunk Funeral Home was honored to serve the family of Ruth Ann VanOver