Ruth Esther Kline's Obituary
CHARLESTON, IL - Ruth Esther Kline, age 103 of Charleston, died on Tuesday, December 17, 2013 at her Hilltop Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center residence. A Memorial Service honoring and celebrating her life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 20, 2013 at Adams Funeral Chapel in Charleston with Reverend Dr. Thomas Hawkins and Reverend Jan Hawkins officiating. A time of visitation for family and friends will be held on Friday for one hour prior to the Memorial Service. Ruth's earthly body was cremated and a private family inurnment will be at a later date in Roselawn Cemetery in Charleston. It is requested that thoughtful donations in her honor be made to the Hilltop Activity Fund. Gifts may be left on the memorial table at the visitation or service, or may be mailed to Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Dr., Charleston, IL 61920. Ruth (also affectionately known as Esther) was born on March 28, 1910 in Sherburn, Minnesota, a daughter of the late De Alton and Ida Mae (Sherman) Packard. Following high school, Esther furthered her education at the University of Minnesota, majoring in English and with minors in both music and Latin. She worked her way through school during the Depression with various teaching jobs and by waitressing at various all night restaurants. Esther was blessed with two older sisters who were also musically talented and trained, and with their help she was able to secure a position with a State Institution for the Handicapped in Faribault, Minnesota. It was there that she began teaching EMH students how to sing by using the Thaddeus Giddings System of note-reading which she had studied at the MacPhail School of Music. She formed an acapella choir of talented students who would perform at Sunday morning chapel and was responsible for the music, dancers, singers and orchestra during the annual Spring Lawn fete held on the institution's grounds. During the summers Esther would further her musical studies at the MacPhail School of Music, Interlochen Music Camp and the University of Minnesota. She was also music director, counselor and lifeguard for the underprivileged Chicago children at Camp Algonquin in Illinois. Esther was a 1937 graduate of the University of Minnesota, the same graduating class as her future husband, Judd Kline, and they were married January 3, 1939 in Minneapolis. While Judd was serving his country during WWII, Esther taught music and English in a public high school and later was employed as a bookkeeper for the University of Minnesota Press. Following Judd's return home from military service, Esther happily transitioned to homemaking and motherhood. She excelled at creating a warm and inviting home for her family, was a fabulous cook, enjoyed gardening and traveling with her husband. Her thirst for knowledge continued as she learned the Spanish language at age 60. Esther, along with her family, were members of the Trinity Episcopal Church of Mattoon. Judd preceded Esther in 1993 after 54 year of marriage. She was also preceded in death by her two older sisters and a brother. Esther is survived by two loving children, Judith Kline of Charleston and Dr. James Kline and wife Gerianne of Orland Park, Illinois; and two grandsons, Mark and James Kline.
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