Evangeline Ruth Schulte

Evangeline Ruth Schulte, 96, of Jefferson City, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and friend, was promoted to Glory on Sunday, April 19, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.

Ruth was born on June 16, 1929, in Jackson, Tennessee, the daughter of Leonard and Lillian (Jones) Burridge, Salvation Army (SA) Majors, ministers, and immigrants from Newfoundland. Her parents were assigned in their SA duties to preach the Gospel and to minister to the poor, hungry, and unhoused citizens, offering a “hand up’. In this service, the family moved to new locations every few years, living in Tennessee, West Virginia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Missouri from the 1930s through the 1950s.

Ruth had shared the hardest part about moving around so much as a child, was the lack of long term friendships. In this sacrifice she learned to connect with people from all walks of life.

Some of the most treasured experiences in her life included playing various musical instruments in SA Corp bands alongside her family members, and enjoying family trips to band camp at Camp Wonderland in Wisconsin; returning there later in life to enjoy the music and reminisce.

She dearly loved being a part of the SA’s mission, such as singing gospel music with her sister, Miriam, on her father’s live ministerial radio program, and providing donuts and coffee to World War II service men and women returning home after the war.

Ruth instilled the love of music in her children as well. One instance being Ruth playing “echo taps” on her bugle from the back porch of her house just up the street from the National Cemetery during the Memorial Day ceremony.

Ruth would become a lifelong Salvation Army board member, involved in many annual fundraising drives, including the annual Christmas Kettle drive.

Ruth was very proud of her heritage, treasuring trips with family to Newfoundland to spend time with her extended family. Ruth was a 1947 graduate of New Albany High School in Indiana, and attended Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. Ruth hit the road in her ’51 Ford Victoria on her first full time job out of college, working for Walsworth Brothers, selling yearbooks to high schools, colleges, and alumni associations throughout the midwest. When her parents were stationed in Jefferson City, she attained the position of the first female program manager with the Jefferson City Park Board. She succeeded in gaining approval in adding organized girl and women leagues to softball and basketball. During this time, she won over the heart of “AJ” Schulte, a young sailor right out of the Navy who was refereeing in her red rag football league.

Ruth’s beautiful figure matched her beautiful personality; both were recognized by a Kansas City modeling agency, enabling her to model for a variety of company products, including brand new cars in Kansas City, and a number of department store products. Her most famous role was “Sealy Sally the Sealy Gal”, perched high above shoppers on a Sealy mattress in downtown Kansas City department stores. Her likeness as the Sealy Gal was included in Sealy Mattress national ads for years.

She was united in marriage on December 10, 1955, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Arthur Joseph Schulte, Sr. who preceded her in death on July 4, 2005.

She and her husband raised 5 children over the next 30 years, being their role model for service to others as her parents were to her. She replaced employment opportunities with raising a large family. At the same time, Ruth had a true passion for volunteering and was always in search of a cause. Ruth was a Girl Scout Leader and delivered Meals on Wheels for years with her husband.

She was a member of Daughters of Isabella and Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, where she served in the choir, as well as providing direction for other catholic churches in Central Missouri. Additionally, she sang in the Jefferson City Symphony Choir, and performed in plays in The Little Theatre of Jefferson City. She performed pantomime for various fundraising events in mid-Missouri, performing the 50’s hits of the likes of Betty Hutton, Marilyn Monroe, and Julie Andrews. She even included her children in a performance, dressing them up as the Von Trapp Family, to sing songs from the Sound of Music.

Ruth was a devoted St. Mary’s Health Center Auxiliary member and past president. She developed and directed the Shut-In Program and was the chairwoman for the annual ice cream social. She was also known as the “Button Lady”, making personalized buttons and keychains at functions and events.

Survivors include her four children, Juliana Schulte, Sedalia; John Henry (Donna) Schulte, Jefferson City; Arthur Joseph Schulte, Jr., Apopka, Fl.; Jennifer Leona Schulte, Jefferson City; three grandchildren, Kristina (John) Bright, Kenneth Schulte, John Christian Schulte; three step-grandchildren, Eric Maher, Deborah Allen, Buddy Scott; three great-grandchildren, Madison Bright, Macey Bright, Emmett Schulte; and one brother, Leonard Burridge, Jr., Maitland, Fl.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her daughter, Laura Kristina Scott; siblings, Miriam Pearl Stefanik and Hollis “Bud” Burridge.

Visitation will be 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., Thursday, April 23, 2026, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, funeral to follow at 10:30 a.m., with the Rev. Mark A. Porterfield officiating.

Burial will be in Resurrection Catholic Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to Salvation Army, Alzheimer Association, or to Immaculate Conception Catholic School.

Services entrusted to Trimble Funeral Homes, Jefferson City.    trimblefunerals.com