IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Ruth M. Leslie
July 19, 1926 - February 8, 2007

St. Louis Downtown Airport Office Manager, 1965 - 1989

Ruth Leslie was devoted to ”Parks Airport.” Her presence will be felt for decades to come through the lives of those she touched along the way.

The airport reopened in 1965 after 6 years of closure and Ruth Leslie was there to set up the office and get things going. In the 1960’s, 70’s, and 80’s, if you needed fuel, tiedown, hangar space, a taxicab or rental car, a coke or a candy bar, directions, or if you rented a plane, you talked to Ruth. If you called in on the airport radio, Ruth was there, too, giving wind and traffic information out to all the pilots flying in the area. Or if you just needed someone to talk to, she was there….for everyone. Ruth was the front doorman, the information desk, the office manager, the public relations department, the advertising and marketing department, and more for the airport and the mentor and guidance department for the airport staff.

Ruth was “Mom” to countless Parks students and “den mother” for dozens of “line boys” who started their aviation careers under her caring guidance.

She was an avid pilot and raised a family filled with multiple generations of pilots, flight attendants, and others making their mark in aviation technical careers. The airport still uses postcards of her beautiful gold and white Beechcraft Musketeer parked in front of historic hangar one.

Ruth retired in 1989 (probably so she could devote more time to bowling) but she never retired from looking after the airport. Right up to her untimely passing, she stayed abreast of airport events and progress, stopped in occasionally for a no-notice airport inspection, and checked in frequently by telephone to make sure that we were taking good care of “her” airport.

Ruth was “Mom” to many of us and will always be an important part of who we are and a key part of our airport's history.

Memorials may be made to Missy's Mirror, Kansas City Cancer Institute, Suite 4000, 4321 Washington St., Kansas City, MO 64111. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.

Friends may call from 4 until 8 p.m. Monday, February 12, 2007, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, February 13, 2007, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL, with the Rev. Dr. Marcus McFaul and the Rev. Steve Kawiecki officiating. Burial will be in Valhalla Gardens of Memory, Belleville, IL.

Ruth M. Leslie, nee Sterthman, 80, of Lake Ozark, MO, formerly of Belleville, IL, born July 19 1926, in Belleville, IL, died Thursday, February 8, 2007, at Lake Regional Hospital, Lake Ozark, MO.

Mrs. Leslie was the retired airport secretary for St. Louis Downtown Airport, where she worked for 25 years. She performed all duties - everything from answering the Unicom to renting airplanes to being airport secretary. She was a pilot, an avid bowler, a den mother, a PTA member, and a Rainbow girl. She was a former member of St. Paul United Church of Christ, Belleville, IL, and was active in volunteer work at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Mrs. Leslie was preceded in death by her husband, James L. Leslie, whom she married, May 29, 1948, and who died November 3, 2003; her parents, Elmer J. and Meta, nee Severit, Sterthman; and a sister, Helen Groh.

She is survived by a son, Avery "Duke" (Nancy) Leslie, of Tampa, FL; two daughters, Jamie Leslie of Lake Ozark City, MO, and Stacey (Brent) Lamb of Lawrence, KS; a brother, Elmer C. "Sonny" (Carol) Sterthman of O'Fallon, IL; a sister, Laverne (Robert) Hanft of Alberta, AL; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.