Margaret Ruth Splichal

Margaret Ruth Keith Splichal, 88, passed away July 6, 2014, surrounded by the love of her family at the Haven Hospice E.T. York Care Center in Gainesville, Fla. The youngest of 10 children, Ruth and sister Mildred Ruby were the "bookend twins" born on Feb. 9, 1926, to William Learcus "Lee" and Elizabeth Jane "Mimi" Wright Keith in Blue Mountain, Miss. The Keiths' eldest children, Ida and Frank, also were twins. Lee was a farmer, Mimi a schoolteacher. Ruth grew up in the Mississippi Delta town of Anguilla, where she played basketball throughout high school. She attended Delta State Teachers College in Cleveland, Miss. (now Delta State University), then with Ruby went to a business school in Memphis, Tenn. While she often spoke of her mother's teaching in a one-room schoolhouse and took pride in her family's academic achievements, her teaching was focused on her own seven children. At a USO dance in Memphis on the heels of World War II, Ruth and Ruby met two handsome young Army Air Corpsmen and were married within months, Ruth to Bernard Louis Splichal on May 18, 1946. Years as a military wife and mother were spent in Mississippi, Texas, Labrador, Kansas, Missouri and Georgia before the family landed in Lake City, Fla., where Splichal retired from the Air Force in 1966 to join the Aero Corp. During 40 years in Lake City, Ruth took great pride in her home and its landscaping, often sharing gardening ideas and cuttings with family and friends. But her greatest joy was family. As her children grew, her home was a gathering place for them and their friends and holiday celebrations. She enjoyed sharing her Scots-Irish family history traced back to the 1600s in America, tales from her life, and photos and updates from her family. She was a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Ruth is remembered for her genteel Southern charm, acceptance of everyone, ready nod and smile, adages and stories, lifetime love of her husband and, most of all, joy in her four sons, three daughters and their offspring. She especially reveled in the attention and affection she received from her darling "girls," daughters Ann, Cathy and Beth, who daily brought light, love and laughter to her doorstep. In a 1998 interview with her granddaughter Liz, Ruth noted the immense rewards of being a parent, seeing "all the stages of their development, mental and physical; the pride in accomplishment; zeal and wonder in nature and every small experience." "In reality, you relive your childhood again through them," she said. "I would hope people would keep that sense of curiosity and wonderment toward learning all their lives." Ruth is preceded in death by her Keith siblings and her beloved "Bernies": Husband Bernard died in 2011; eldest child, son Bernard Jr., in 2002; and grandson Charles Bernard Amos in 1991 at age 13. She is survived by her children: Sig Splichal and wife Colee of Miami; Ann Amos and husband Allen of Gainesville, Fla.; Jerry Splichal and wife Kris Williams of Henderson, Ky.; Cathy Splichal and husband Tom Hostert of Gainesville, Fla.; Jan Splichal and wife Janice of Union, Ky.; Beth Farris and husband Mark of Ocala, Fla., and his daughter, Lindsey. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and by her grandchildren Michelle "Shelley" Amos and Meg Amos of Gainesville, Fla.; Clark Splichal and fiancée Deborah Acosta of New York City; Coty Splichal and husband Paul Vermeren of Bradenton, Fla.; Colin Hostert and Lauren Hostert of Gainesville, Fla.; Christine Warren and husband Daniel of Edgewood, Ky.; David Splichal and wife Laura of Union, Ky.; Matt Mikell and wife Anna of Gainesville, Fla.; and Liz McKinney and husband Eric of Melbourne, Fla. Ruth also was thrilled to be the great-grandmother of Jacob and Katelyn Warren and Aubrey Mikell. She will be honored in a graveside service on Saturday, July 12, at 11:00 at Forest Meadows, 4100 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32606. Remembrances are welcome at the Haven Hospice E.T. York Care Center, 4200 NW 90th Blvd., Gainesville, FL, 32606. Margaret Ruth Keith Splichal, 88, passed away July 6, 2014, surrounded by the love of her family at the Haven Hospice E.T. York Care Center in Gainesville, Fla. The youngest of 10 children, Ruth and sister Mildred Ruby were the "bookend twins" born on Feb. 9, 1926, to William Learcus "Lee" and Elizabeth Jane "Mimi" Wright Keith in Blue Mountain, Miss. The Keiths' eldest children, Ida and Frank, also were twins. Lee was a farmer, Mimi a schoolteacher. Ruth grew up in the Mississippi Delta town of Anguilla, where she played basketball throughout high school. She attended Delta State Teachers College in Cleveland, Miss. (now Delta State University), then with Ruby went to a business school in Memphis, Tenn. While she often spoke of her mother's teaching in a one-room schoolhouse and took pride in her family's academic achievements, her teaching was focused on her own seven children. At a USO dance in Memphis on the heels of World War II, Ruth and Ruby met two handsome young Army Air Corpsmen and were married within months, Ruth to Bernard Louis Splichal on May 18, 1946. Years as a military wife and mother were spent in Mississippi, Texas, Labrador, Kansas, Missouri and Georgia before the family landed in Lake City, Fla., where Splichal retired from the Air Force in 1966 to join the Aero Corp. During 40 years in Lake City, Ruth took great pride in her home and its landscaping, often sharing gardening ideas and cuttings with family and friends. But her greatest joy was family. As her children grew, her home was a gathering place for them and their friends and holiday celebrations. She enjoyed sharing her Scots-Irish family history traced back to the 1600s in America, tales from her life, and photos and updates from her family. She was a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Ruth is remembered for her genteel Southern charm, acceptance of everyone, ready nod and smile, adages and stories, lifetime love of her husband and, most of all, joy in her four sons, three daughters and their offspring. She especially reveled in the attention and affection she received from her darling "girls," daughters Ann, Cathy and Beth, who daily brought light, love and laughter to her doorstep. In a 1998 interview with her granddaughter Liz, Ruth noted the immense rewards of being a parent, seeing "all the stages of their development, mental and physical; the pride in accomplishment; zeal and wonder in nature and every small experience." "In reality, you relive your childhood again through them," she said. "I would hope people would keep that sense of curiosity and wonderment toward learning all their lives." Ruth is preceded in death by her Keith siblings and her beloved "Bernies": Husband Bernard died in 2011; eldest child, son Bernard Jr., in 2002; and grandson Charles Bernard Amos in 1991 at age 13. She is survived by her children: Sig Splichal and wife Colee of Miami; Ann Amos and husband Allen of Gainesville, Fla.; Jerry Splichal and wife Kris Williams of Henderson, Ky.; Cathy Splichal and husband Tom Hostert of Gainesville, Fla.; Jan Splichal and wife Janice of Union, Ky.; Beth Farris and husband Mark of Ocala, Fla., and his daughter, Lindsey. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and by her grandchildren Michelle "Shelley" Amos and Meg Amos of Gainesville, Fla.; Clark Splichal and fiancée Deborah Acosta of New York City; Coty Splichal and husband Paul Vermeren of Bradenton, Fla.; Colin Hostert and Lauren Hostert of Gainesville, Fla.; Christine Warren and husband Daniel of Edgewood, Ky.; David Splichal and wife Laura of Union, Ky.; Matt Mikell and wife Anna of Gainesville, Fla.; and Liz McKinney and husband Eric of Melbourne, Fla. Ruth also was thrilled to be the great-grandmother of Jacob and Katelyn Warren and Aubrey Mikell. She will be honored in a graveside service on Saturday, July 12, at 11:00 at Forest Meadows, 4100 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32606. Remembrances are welcome at the Haven Hospice E.T. York Care Center, 4200 NW 90th Blvd., Gainesville, FL, 32606.

Margaret Ruth Splichal

July 9, 2014