White Funeral Home
1315 Main Street
Jesup, Iowa 50648

Jesup – Ruth Delores Kennedy Smith, 76 years old of Jesup, IA, died Wednesday, May 18, 2016, at her home. 

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. –Saturday, May 21, 2016, at the White Funeral Home, Jesup, IA, with burial at Cedar Crest Cemetery, Jesup.

Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Friday, May 20^th at the funeral home.  Memorials will be directed to the Independence Food Pantry; the Ronald McDonald House and the Buchanan County Animal Shelter.

Ruth was born June 27, 1939, in Des Moines, IA, the daughter of Raymond “Dutch” Stoner and Geraldine “June” (Webb) Stoner.  She graduated from high school in Johnston, IA.  On December 17, 1955 she was united in marriage to Roy Dale Kennedy, Jr. in Johnston, IA.  They later divorced.  In 1985, she married James Smith of Jesup, IA, at the Buchanan County Courthouse in Independence, IA. They later divorced.  Ruth was a lover of animals; she was talented at crafts and enjoyed knitting hats given to newborn infants at area hospitals.  She had been active in Green Scene in Waterloo and Head Start in Jesup, also in earlier years she had been a competition roller skater.

Ruth is survived by 2 sons, Rick (Kim) Kennedy of Novinger, MO, and Randy (Felicia ) Kennedy of Jesup, IA; 2 daughters, Rhonda Kayser of Rowley, IA,  and Rayann (Rock) Vogel of Jesup, IA; 10 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; one great-great grandchild with two on the way; also two brothers, Gary (Doris) Stoner of Thurmont, MD, and Bill (Irasema) Stoner of Veracruz, Mexico. She is preceded in death by her parents, 1 grandson, Randy D. Kennedy, and 1 great grandson, Randy R. Kennedy.