Born to Lawrence Melvin and Ruth Evelyn (Bledsoe) Heckler on January 24, 1947, French Lick, Orange County, Indiana, in Dr. B. Sugarman's Clinic. She and her mother were escorted home to Bledsoe's in a brand new white Cadillac ambulance by Ritters, being their first passengers. The Hecklers had two sons before her, Jerry Lynn, and Monty Lynn.
Folks quite often asked how she came by her name, especially since she was from French Lick, IN, nowhere exotic, just a little coal town, developing its natural springs into a resort and gaining notoriety. Having traveled extensively in the United States with Melvin being in the US Navy for over 21 years, Ruth loved adventure, mystery, and was a romantic. She simply found the name Chiquita (Sp. for 'Little One or Little Girl') in a book and Leilania (Lee-ah-lah-nah) (Hawaiian for 'Leis of Heaven or Heavenly Flowers') was derived from the then popular song, "Sweet Leilani" with Ruth just adding an "a" and changing the pronounciation.
On September 4, 1965, she married her high school sweetheart, Larry (Bobby) Robert Baker of Abydel, at the Ames Chapel United Methodist Church, just across the road. Rev. Herb Mathers did the honors.
After 13 years of marriage they divorced in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Seven years later, on June 28, 1986, Bobby and Chiquita remarried at the Ames Chapel United Methodist Church at Abydel by Rev. Austin. In attendance were their three children, Christine Susan, Nathan Eric, and Carla Michele, along with the immediate families.
She will leave behind a legacy of three children and seven of the most wonderful grandchildren ever blessed to a woman, along with a great-grandson - God's Purpose for her being.
Grandchildren are Mathew Shay and Logan Shanobe Nelson, Cloe Jade Holley, Lila Grace and Cyrus Augustus Baker, and Wesley Richard and Nicolas Wyatt Viola. Presently, great-grandchildren include Lucas Isaiah Nelson.
Folks quite often asked how she came by her name, especially since she was from French Lick, IN, nowhere exotic, just a little coal town, developing its natural springs into a resort and gaining notoriety. Having traveled extensively in the United States with Melvin being in the US Navy for over 21 years, Ruth loved adventure, mystery, and was a romantic. She simply found the name Chiquita (Sp. for 'Little One or Little Girl') in a book and Leilania (Lee-ah-lah-nah) (Hawaiian for 'Leis of Heaven or Heavenly Flowers') was derived from the then popular song, "Sweet Leilani" with Ruth just adding an "a" and changing the pronounciation.
On September 4, 1965, she married her high school sweetheart, Larry (Bobby) Robert Baker of Abydel, at the Ames Chapel United Methodist Church, just across the road. Rev. Herb Mathers did the honors.
After 13 years of marriage they divorced in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Seven years later, on June 28, 1986, Bobby and Chiquita remarried at the Ames Chapel United Methodist Church at Abydel by Rev. Austin. In attendance were their three children, Christine Susan, Nathan Eric, and Carla Michele, along with the immediate families.
She will leave behind a legacy of three children and seven of the most wonderful grandchildren ever blessed to a woman, along with a great-grandson - God's Purpose for her being.
Grandchildren are Mathew Shay and Logan Shanobe Nelson, Cloe Jade Holley, Lila Grace and Cyrus Augustus Baker, and Wesley Richard and Nicolas Wyatt Viola. Presently, great-grandchildren include Lucas Isaiah Nelson.
Born to Lawrence Melvin and Ruth Evelyn (Bledsoe) Heckler on January 24, 1947, French Lick, Orange County, Indiana, in Dr. B. Sugarman's Clinic. She and her mother were escorted home to Bledsoe's in a brand new white Cadillac ambulance by Ritters, being their first passengers. The Hecklers had two sons before her, Jerry Lynn, and Monty Lynn.
Folks quite often asked how she came by her name, especially since she was from French Lick, IN, nowhere exotic, just a little coal town, developing its natural springs into a resort and gaining notoriety. Having traveled extensively in the United States with Melvin being in the US Navy for over 21 years, Ruth loved adventure, mystery, and was a romantic. She simply found the name Chiquita (Sp. for 'Little One or Little Girl') in a book and Leilania (Lee-ah-lah-nah) (Hawaiian for 'Leis of Heaven or Heavenly Flowers') was derived from the then popular song, "Sweet Leilani" with Ruth just adding an "a" and changing the pronounciation.
On September 4, 1965, she married her high school sweetheart, Larry (Bobby) Robert Baker of Abydel, at the Ames Chapel United Methodist Church, just across the road. Rev. Herb Mathers did the honors.
After 13 years of marriage they divorced in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Seven years later, on June 28, 1986, Bobby and Chiquita remarried at the Ames Chapel United Methodist Church at Abydel by Rev. Austin. In attendance were their three children, Christine Susan, Nathan Eric, and Carla Michele, along with the immediate families.
She will leave behind a legacy of three children and seven of the most wonderful grandchildren ever blessed to a woman, along with a great-grandson - God's Purpose for her being.
Grandchildren are Mathew Shay and Logan Shanobe Nelson, Cloe Jade Holley, Lila Grace and Cyrus Augustus Baker, and Wesley Richard and Nicolas Wyatt Viola. Presently, great-grandchildren include Lucas Isaiah Nelson.
Folks quite often asked how she came by her name, especially since she was from French Lick, IN, nowhere exotic, just a little coal town, developing its natural springs into a resort and gaining notoriety. Having traveled extensively in the United States with Melvin being in the US Navy for over 21 years, Ruth loved adventure, mystery, and was a romantic. She simply found the name Chiquita (Sp. for 'Little One or Little Girl') in a book and Leilania (Lee-ah-lah-nah) (Hawaiian for 'Leis of Heaven or Heavenly Flowers') was derived from the then popular song, "Sweet Leilani" with Ruth just adding an "a" and changing the pronounciation.
On September 4, 1965, she married her high school sweetheart, Larry (Bobby) Robert Baker of Abydel, at the Ames Chapel United Methodist Church, just across the road. Rev. Herb Mathers did the honors.
After 13 years of marriage they divorced in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Seven years later, on June 28, 1986, Bobby and Chiquita remarried at the Ames Chapel United Methodist Church at Abydel by Rev. Austin. In attendance were their three children, Christine Susan, Nathan Eric, and Carla Michele, along with the immediate families.
She will leave behind a legacy of three children and seven of the most wonderful grandchildren ever blessed to a woman, along with a great-grandson - God's Purpose for her being.
Grandchildren are Mathew Shay and Logan Shanobe Nelson, Cloe Jade Holley, Lila Grace and Cyrus Augustus Baker, and Wesley Richard and Nicolas Wyatt Viola. Presently, great-grandchildren include Lucas Isaiah Nelson.
Gravesite Details
Remembrance Bench ONLY - ashes to be scattered out West by family.
