Ruth Mary Langley Kern passed away peacefully at her home in Aurora on March 20, 2023, on her 102nd birthday. She was born March 20, 1921 and lived the 102 years of her life in Aurora. She attended St. Mary’s School through Grade 11 when the school still offered high school education. She then graduated from Aurora High School in 1939.
Following graduation, she worked for nine years at the Aurora Casket Company as Executive Secretary to one of the then co-owners, William Barrott, Senior.
She was a remarkable woman ahead of her time, avidly pursuing independent interests that were quite unusual for women of her generation. Growing up on Decatur Street, she had a lifelong riverine interest in the Ohio River. As a young adult, she purchased a Canadian canoe with outboard engine to motor the local waterways; from the current location of Markland Dam to Split Rock, through Laughery and Hogan Creeks, to Lawrenceburg. During WWII, she joined the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and patrolled the Ohio River to provide boater assistance and emergency help to shoreline residents throughout the year, especially during the annual Spring flooding that inundated homes and businesses.
Following WWII, she and four male friends jointly purchased a surplus U.S. Army Air Corps aircraft – an Aeronca L-3 which was a high-wing, single engine airplane. She obtained her private pilot’s license and flew her Aeronca aircraft from the grass airfield that existed between Aurora and Lawrenceburg.
In 1948, she married Raymond L. Kern, also of Aurora, who had just returned from his WWII military service as a U.S. Navy pilot. They had five children, three of whom followed their parents’ love of aviation in their own lives; Dennis, the oldest son, served a 31-year military career as a U.S. Navy pilot; Patrick, the middle son, had a professional career as a commercial pilot in propeller, jet, and helicopter aircraft; and Bridget, the youngest daughter, obtained her own private pilot license. Bridget’s son, Dylan, also served as a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier pilot and is now a U.S. Navy doctor.
Ruth Mary was an avid contract bridge player and belonged to several bridge clubs throughout her life. She was a voracious reader and a frequent user of the Aurora Public Library, her husband serving for many years as a member of the Aurora Public Library Board.
She was a life-long gardener, with a particular love of wildflowers and trees. For many years, she cultivated a formal herb garden with an expansive collection of culinary and medicinal herbs.
She was a member of the service sorority Phi Beta Psi, the Theta Gamma Chapter in Aurora. For many years she served as the Chapter’s Corresponding Secretary and won two national awards for her creative writing and Chapter reporting in the Phi Beta Psi national monthly magazine.
Her husband, Raymond, was tragically killed in an aircraft accident in 1967. Following his death, she returned to the workforce within the administration of the South Dearborn School Community Corporation, rising within the organization to become the Executive Secretary to the Superintendent of Schools, a position that she held until her retirement in 1995.
In retirement, she then served for many years as a docent at Hillforest, giving tours to visitors and supporting various events at this beautiful historic mansion.
She is survived by her five children, five grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. They are Dennis Kern and wife, Kate, of San Francisco, CA; their daughter, Emily and her son Lucas, also of San Francisco; and their son, St. Julian, Sr. and his wife, Brooke, and their sons, St. Julian, Jr. and Anderson, of Asheville, North Carolina. Angela Kern Miller and husband, Mark, of Aurora; and their daughter, Dr. Molly Kraus, husband, Keith, and her children, Owen and Norah, all of Oldenburg. Patrick Kern and wife, Ruby, of Guilford. Bridget Kern Schoo, her daughter, Dr. Caroline Schoo, and her son Aaron Raymond, all of Ridgway, CO; and her son, Dr. Dylan Schoo and his wife, Ericka, of Gainesville, FL. Barry Kern and his wife, Debbie, of Lawrenceburg.
The family thanks Loving Hearts Hospice and her dear friends and caregivers Sandi Gentry, Ellen Sporleder, Sherry Zinser, Marlene Young, Laura Wilmore, and Iva McConnell for their wonderfully attentive care of Ruth Mary for this past year, which allowed her to live out her life in her home, as was her ardent desire.
Graveside services will be held Saturday March 25, 2023 at 1:00pm at Riverview Cemetery with Father Jonathon Meyer officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials or donations may be given to the Aurora Public Library.