Ruth Martine (Reynolds) Burris Abbiehl

1912 - 2005

Ruth (Reynolds) Burris Abbiehl passed away at 6:15 a.m., April 19, 2005 in Tallahassee, Florida.  Ruth was the first born of Lizzie Marchand and Walter W. Reynolds on June 8, 1912 at Bonne Terre, MO. The family lived at 318 Ward Street in Bonne Terre. Her mother Lizzie, the daughter of Louis and Matilda Marchand, is remembered for her huge collection of salt and pepper shakers which may still be on display at the Shepard House in Bonne Terre's Historic District.  Her father Walter William Reynolds was a well-known RR engineer on the old Mississippi River and Bonne Terre Railroad. On graduation from Bonne Terre High School, Ruth attended St. Louis City Hospital Training School for Nurses and became a registered nurse. Ruth was the last surviving of the Reynolds children, having been proceeded in death by her brothers James , Walter, Chester, and Harold.  She was preceded in death by husbands William C. Burris and Oscar Abbiehl. 

Ruth, Age 9 months

Ruth, Walter Lee, and Jim Reynolds

Ruth Reynolds with her brothers,  Jim, Walter Lee, Chester and Harold

William & Ruth (Reynolds) Burris

The foregoing  information and photos were contributed by Joseph A. Wilkson who commented that Ruth sent him some of her old postcards and photos. One postcard was of the Centenary Methodist Church in Bonne Terre, Missouri, on which she commented, "A neighbor, Mrs. Vogt, first took me to church and Sunday school. This is the first church I attended. I joined when I was 12 years old. Dad, Jim, and Babe (Walter) surprised me and joined with me" Another was a photo of the Masonic Temple in Bonne Terre on which she commented, "My dad, James, Chester and Harold were all 32nd Degree Masons. I was an Eastern Star and still am". ,