Wauneita Ruth McConnell Obituary

Wauneita Ruth McConnell, first ordained Woman in the Iowa United Methodist Conference, departed her earthly life in the Village in Indianola, Iowa on May 16, 2012 at the age of 94 after serving as a Methodist Minister for 53 years.

She was born in Bloomfield, Iowa to Ira Newman McConnell and Ruth Elizabeth Tarrence McConnell on the 23rd of June 1917.  At the age of three her family moved to Centerville, Iowa where she grew up and graduated from Centerville High School in 1936.  She and her family were active in the United Methodist Church in Centerville.  While in her 6th grade Church School Class one Sunday her pastor challenged the students to memorize the books of the New testament.  She memorized them and was given the smallest New Testament and Psalms Booklet that was ever published.  The little booklet has traveled with her through the years.  It will go with her today.

While in 8th grade she was attending a Summer Institute on the campus of Iowa Wesleyan College, she committed herself to follow the call into the ministry.  She completed that challenge and served for many years.

As a youth, she was MYF President in the Ottumwa District MYF for seven years, members of children and youth choirs, assisting where she could.  After High School, she was a part time secretary and also worked in the Appanoose County Parish with four other ministers, all the time working toward her goal.  While at Simpson College, she served the Madora UMC as a part of the rehabilitation of the Warren County Methodist Churches under the direction of Gene Carter.

After receiving her Masters Degree, she served two churches in Missouri as a Minister of Education, all the while working her way back to her home conference.  When she returned, she was welcomed back to the Iowa Conference and assigned to the Russell United Methodist Church and the Bethel Church serving fifteen years and retiring in 1981.

An open visitation was held at Fielding Funeral Home in Chariton, Iowa on May 19, 2012.  Interment followed at the Russell Cemetery where she was laid to rest next to her sister Joan.  A Memorial service was held in the First United Methodist Church in Indianola, Iowa.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, Centerville, Iowa.  Online condolences may be sent to the family at http://www.fieldingfuneralhomes.com/ .