Mary Lucile (Rucker) Holstine, 90, St. Joseph, Missouri, passed away Friday, May 24, 2024.
She was born November 21, 1933, in St. Joseph, Missouri. She attended Central High School and later graduated from Plattsburg High School in 1951.
Mary married Irvin Wayne Holstine on April 4, 1957. He preceded her in death on September 17, 2021.
She graduated from Tarkio College with a degree in Elementary Education and taught in St. Joseph for several years before deciding to stay at home to raise her children. She later earned her master’s degree in Communication Disorders from Northwest Missouri State University.
She was an elementary school Speech-Language Pathologist before retiring in 1998 from Holt County R-11 School in Mound City, Missouri. She was also a member of the ASHA - American Speech & Hearing Association.
Mary was an avid genealogist and spent many years discovering extensive family information. Her greatest joy was her children and grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Irvin; her mother, Lucile Redfearn Rucker; infant twin brother, Donald Redfearn Rucker; cousins, Clifton DeShon (Beverly) and Maxine Goff (Ronnie); aunt and uncle, Jessie DeShon (Max); and her in-laws, Ralph Holstine, Marilyn Buntz (Richard), and Dale Holstine.
Survivors include her children, Wayne (Stephanie) Holstine, Leigh (Rod) Helfers, Lyn (David) Stacy, and Paul Holstine; grandchildren, Kristin (Josh) Luttrell and Emma Helfers; great-grandchildren, Jaiden Barnard, Adison Barnard, and Joshua Luttrell; in-laws, Rhoda Holstine, Marcina Holstine, and Donald Holstine (Joann); and several nieces and nephews.
Farewell Services 10:00 A.M. Saturday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Inurnment Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will gather with friends one hour prior to the service, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Krug Park’s Holiday Park. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.
