Ruth Lavon Coonrod

Ruth Lavon Coonrod, 83, of Manhattan, died Dec. 8, 2011, at Meadowlark Hills--Collins House. She was born Oct. 10, 1928, in Manhattan, the daughter of Foster and Margaret Unice (Colwell) Blockcolsky.

Mrs. Coonrod grew up in the Zeandale Community and graduated from Manhattan High School. She had lived in Wichita, Kan., Elk Falls, Kan., and Winfield, Kan., prior to returning to Manhattan.

She was a member of the Methodist and Christian churches all her life.

Mrs. Coonrod was devoted to her family and loved spending time with her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed bowling for many years in several different leagues.

On June 3, 1949, at the First United Methodist Church in Manhattan, she was married to Carl M. Coonrod. Mr. Coonrod preceded her in death on March 4, 2002. She was also preceded in death by one granddaughter, Kristin Coonrod; and one brother, Robert Blockcolsky.

Survivors include two sons, Carl F. Coonrod and his wife, Donna, of Wichita, Kan., and Randall R. Coonrod and his, Jacquie, of Wichita, Kan.; three siblings, Imogene Farley of Manhattan, Donna Simpson of Carson City, Nev., and Bill Blockcolsky of North Pole, Ala.; five grandchildren, Sandra (Steve) Ackley of Wilmington, Del., Christopher Coonrod of El Dorado, Kan., Nicole (Justin) Parks of Wichita, Kan., Laurie (Robert) Cassidy of Manhattan, and Morgan Coonrod of Kansas City, Kan.; five great-grandchildren, Alexander and Nicholas Ackley, Lillana and Samantha Coonrod, and Parker Cassidy; three stepgrandchildren; and five stepgreat-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, Dec. 12, at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Kay Scarbrough officiating. Graveside services will be held at 4 p.m. Monday at the Pleasant View Cemetery near Fort Scott, Kan., with the Rev. Glen Duderstadt officiating.

The family will receive friends from 7 until 8:30 p.m., Sunday, at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home.

Online condolences may be left for the family through the funeral home Web site at www.ymlfuneralhome.com.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Disease Association, Kansas State University Foundation to establish the Ruth L. Coonrod General Scholarship Fund, or the Community Foundation of Kansas for the Cato Restoration Project. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.