Ruth (Curd) Dickinson

Ruth Curd Dickinson, 83, passed away suddenly while baking on January 17, 2017 at her home in Topeka, Kansas. Born April 27, 1933 in Wilmore, Kentucky and raised in Evansville, Indiana., Ruth was the youngest of five children of the late Robert Franklin and Ruth Dale (Peckinpaugh) Curd and granddaughter of the late Robert and Lillie (Rough) Curd of Jessamine County, Kentucky and of the late Harry and Lola (Huffman) Peckinpaugh of Evansville, Indiana. She met her future husband, Jacob Alan "Skip" Dickinson, at the University of Chicago (graduated 1952), married him (1953) in Spokane, Washington, and moved several times while he served in the Coast Guard (Eureka, California; Honolulu, Hawaii) and continued his education (Norman, Oklahoma). In 1959, Ruth moved to Topeka, she raised three children, participated in numerous community groups and activities, and, from 1967, worked in public policy and mental health. She divorced (1974), earned her M.P.A. at the University of Kansas (1976) and left Topeka (1979) to begin a 20-year career in fundraising, returning to the University of Chicago and continuing in Milwaukee, St. Louis (Washington University), San Antonio (University of Texas), and Manhattan, Kansas (Kansas State University), before retiring to Topeka (1997).

Ruth was lively, engaging, widely traveled, and interested in innumerable subjects. She loved cooking, books, museums and art. Her Victorian house cookies were featured in a book on decorative baking, her cheesecake and "dilly bread" cherished by many, her hand-dyed textiles among her many exquisite gifts to family and friends. Ruth enjoyed frequent visits to Europe, as well as Mexico, China, and India. She was an Episcopalian, a staunch Democrat, and involved with numerous groups, including the Topeka Symphony, the Topeka Public Library, and the League of Women Voters.

Ruth is survived by son Jacob (Janis) of Long Beach, California, daughters Sara (Camillo Imbimbo) of Genoa, Italy, and Ann (Michael) Mahoney of Hillsborough, California, eight grandchildren (Carl, Ellen, Alex, James, Lane, Grace, Christopher, and Iolanda). Ruth will be greatly missed by Linda Dickinson Spalding, many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

Service will be 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 26, 2017 at Grace Episcopal Cathedral, 701 SW 8th Ave, Topeka, KS 66603.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Topeka Symphony Endowment Fund, PO Box 2206, Topeka KS 66601-2206.

To share your memories of Ruth or leave a special condolence message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.