Ruth Kilgore Zielinski

1922 - 2015

Ruth Kilgore Zielinski
September 23, 1922 - October 22, 2015
Macon, GA- Ruth Kilgore Zielinski, 93, passed away on Thursday, October 22, 2015.
Born September 23rd, 1922, in Walton County, Georgia, Ruth was the eighth of Marion and Ezzie Kilgore's ten children. Though she grew up on a farm, she became a city girl during WWII, working for Liberty Mutual Insurance in Atlanta. It was during this time that a girlfriend asked Ruth to go on a blind date with a young Army private stationed at Fort Benning. That date led to many more, and before Frank Thomas Zielinski shipped out to serve his country overseas, Ruth Kilgore became Ruth Zielinski.
After the war, Ruth and Frank moved to his hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania, and it was there they welcomed their two children, Nancy and Tommy. However, when offered an opportunity to move back to Georgia, the family took it. Ruth laughingly recounted to her grandchildren the story of how Frank, a Yankee from Pennsylvania, hopped out of the car and kissed the Georgia clay when they arrived, vowing never to leave it again.
In 1960, the family settled in Macon and Ruth became active in Bloomfield Gardens Baptist Church where she was a member of the ladies' Sunday school class, sang in the choir, and taught children's Sunday school. She was a faithful member of the church for 50 years and was the oldest surviving member when it closed in 2014.
In addition to raising her family and volunteering at church, Ruth also worked outside the home, serving as the first personnel manager for Kmart when it arrived in Macon in the 1960s. To her Kmart family, she was the beloved "Mrs. Z" and the relationship with her employees did not end when Ruth retired after more than 20 years of service. To this day, former Kmart workers stop to ask about "Mrs. Z" whenever they encounter one of her family members.
Ruth is survived by her daughter Nancy Leslie (Carl) of Myrtle Beach, SC; her son Tommy Zielinski (Dana) of Atlanta; her grandchildren Valerie Beck (Tim), Carrie Soltay (Endre), and Clay Zielinski (Elizabeth); her great-grandchildren, Molly, Emma Liz, Parker, and Emilia; as well as many nieces and nephews.
We will celebrate Ruth's life with a service at Crest Lawn Funeral Home on Monday October 26, 2015 at 2:00 pm with Pastor Randall Mimbs Officiating. The family will receive friends for one hour prior to the service. Afterwards, Ruth will be buried at Glen Haven Memorial Gardens next to her husband Frank, who preceded her in death in 1989.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Magnolia Manor, 200 Pierce Ave. Macon, GA 31204 where Ruth spent her recent years under the care of her dear friend, Cleona Smith, a former Kmart employee.


View the online memorial for Ruth Kilgore Zielinski