Leita Fay Rauh

Leita Fay Wilson Rauh, 87, the youngest of six children, was born May 1, 1916, in Argentine, Kansas to Frank E. and Laurena E. Wilson. At the age of 12, the family moved to the Waldo area of Kansas City, Missouri. She graduated from Southwest High School and attended K. C. Junior College. On November 20, 1938, she was united in marriage to Ernest F. Rauh at the Wornall Road Baptist Church and to this union were born two children, Lawrence Ernest and Sharon Lynn. Leita and Ernie celebrated their 57th Wedding Anniversary in November, 1995. In December, 1939, Leita was baptized at the RLDS Stone Church by Garland E. Tickemeyer and has been actively affiliated with the church since that time supporting her husband wholeheartedly in his ministry as well as serving in various offices of the women�s departments. When a member of the Center Stake Council of Women, she became the first chairman of the toy project providing toys for children patients at the Independence Sanitarium. She was a past president and charter member of the Pan-a-delphia Club since 1941. Leita was the original director of the toy project at the Independence San which provided toys for children patients and assisted many years in providing mothers at the San with pictures of their new born babies. Leita was a former member of the Independence Young Matrons, the Knife and Fork Club, and a charter member of the Center Stake Daughters of Zion. She was the first secretary and historian of the Blue Ridge RLDS Church and was actively engaged in the work at the Pleasant Heights RLDS Church where her husband was the first pastor. At the time of her death, Leita was a charter member of the South Crylser Restoration Branch. Prior to her marriage, Leita was employed at the Safety Federal Savings & Loan and later was employed as secretary to Garland Tickemeyer at the RLDS Auditorium. She served as assistant to Bishop Stanley Kelley in charge of housing for the RLDS World Conference for 10 years. She also sold real estate for a number of years for Start & Wilson, and later for Reese & Constance. Leita was employed by the Independence Sanitarium in the business office for 11 years retiring in 1976. Leita passed away on December 3, 2003 at Rosewood where she had lived for the past 3 years. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Ernest, who passed away on September 2, 1996, and by her parents, three sisters, and two brothers. She leaves to cherish her memory her daughter, Sharon Rauh of Independence, and her son, Dr. Lawrence Ernest Rauh and his wife, Danice, of Pleasant Hill, Oregon. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Speaks Suburban Chapel. Burial will be in Mound Grove Cemetery. Friends may call Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the chapel. The family suggests contributions in lieu of flowers to the NorthCare Hospice or the South Crysler Restoration Branch Missionary Fund.