Ruth Ann Jenkins

Ruth Ann Lodde Jenkins passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at the age of 95, surrounded by the love of her four daughters. Born on August 1, 1930, to Ruth and Francis Lodde, Ruth Ann was a proud, lifelong resident of Kansas City.

She attended Border Star Elementary, Visitation Grade School, and St. Teresa’s Academy. She attended St. Mary's College and then chose to pursue a career as an X-ray technician and proudly worked at St. Mary's Hospital.

Ruth Ann’s primary focus and greatest joy was raising her four daughters. Throughout her life, she built and lived in multiple homes across Kansas City and Tucson, Arizona. Possessing a keen sense of aesthetics and design, she took great pride in creating welcoming, serene environments. She held a deep appreciation for her family history, especially the stained-glass window her maternal grandfather installed at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church near Crown Center.

When she later returned to the workforce, Ruth Ann brought her eye for interior design to Au Marché on the Plaza and Smith Co. She also worked as an assistant to both a wedding planner and an interior designer. Towards the end of her career, she worked in the real estate industry as a receptionist at ReeceNichols.

Her generous spirit extended deeply into volunteering. She served as a hostess at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art’s Rozzelle Court, working as a wedding coordinator at St. Agnes Catholic Church, and was a dedicated member of Curé of Ars Catholic Church, where she loved serving on the Funeral Luncheon Committee and sharing her classic carrot soufflé recipe.

Guided by a love of adventure, Ruth Ann traveled extensively both nationally and internationally. To fulfill a lifelong wish for her 75th birthday, her daughters gifted her a memorable hot air balloon ride. She loved bringing people together, curating welcoming gatherings centered around fine cuisine, and sharing her love of cooking with family and friends. She was also an avid sports fan, always cheering on her beloved Kansas City Chiefs, Royals, and the Kansas Jayhawks basketball team.

Ruth Ann possessed a profound appreciation for beauty and frequently reminded others that "when you look out a window, you should see something beautiful." To that end, she endeavored to create artfully designed landscapes filled with elegance and grace. In doing so, she dramatically improved what she considered to be unsightly views for many local residents of Kingswood Senior Living Community.

In celebrating Ruth Ann’s life, we cherish the legacy of a woman who lived authentically, loved deeply, and stood true to herself and her beliefs. She will be dearly missed and forever remembered for the indelible mark she left on our hearts.

She is survived by her four daughters: Ruth Jenkins (Lea Murphy), Maryann Acola (Mark), Joan Arbor, and Carolyn Lodde Poer (Tom); her eight grandchildren: Ruthann Johnson, Paul Rotert (Ashley), Harrison Randall (Kendall), Ethan Poer (Lexsie), Lydia Poer, Katherine Poer, Samantha Diaz-Arbor, and Alexandra Diaz-Arbor; and her five great-grandchildren: Shelby Johnson, Evelynn Nye, Lincoln Randall, Nora Rotert, and Callen Randall. She was preceded in death by her younger sister Joan L. McGee.

The funeral will be held at Curé of Ars Catholic Church, 9401 Mission Rd, Leawood, KS, on Saturday, June 13th. Visitation will begin at 9:00 AM, followed by a rosary. Memorial Mass at 10:00 AM with a reception immediately following. Interment at Mount Olivet Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Little Sisters of the Poor at their website.