Gertrude Delores Ritter Camp went to be with the Lord on September 28, 2018, the day before her 86th birthday. She passed away at University of Missouri Hospital in Columbia, Missouri.

Gertrude was born on September 29, 1932, the daughter of Ruth Kemp Ritter and Delbert Ritter. She grew up in McKittrick, Missouri, and she graduated from Sumner High School in Boonville, Missouri, where she was valedictorian and played on the girls' basketball team. She attended Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, intending to become a teacher, but she later discovered her passion was providing health care services. Over the years, she worked a number of places, including the Veterans Home in Mexico, Missouri, Family Pharmacy in Montgomery City, Missouri, and as a medical assistant for Dr. Van Arsdale. Gertrude also did private home care and volunteered at local nursing homes, helping and visiting with residents.

Gertrude married Earl Glennon Camp in 1953 and moved to Montgomery City. She and her husband were pillars of St. John White Chapel Baptist Church. She was a Church Mother and secretary and taught Vacation Bible School classes, and her husband was a deacon and church treasurer. They and their four children could be found in church all day every Sunday, from Sunday School through church services through BTU in the evenings. They instilled in their children the value of education and hard work. Gertrude enjoyed shopping, traveling and staying in hotels, reading her Bible, visiting with her grandchildren, taking care of her nieces and nephews, watching the LA Lakers and Mizzou Tigers on TV, and eating out (Red Lobster was her favorite). She had beautiful clothes and jewelry, often wearing rings on each finger, and she liked to sing religious songs and to listen to gospel music.

Gertrude lived in Montgomery City until her health started to decline several years ago, and then she went to live at Candlelight Lodge Assisted Living in Columbia, Missouri. The family thanks her first cousins Gloria Pace and Judy Newsom, both of St. Louis, Missouri, for their love and support. They thank the staff at Candlelight Lodge for their wonderful love and care of their mother. Every night before she went to bed, Gertrude talked on the phone with her longtime best friend and former classmate, Ceola Fulcher of St. Louis.

Gertrude's husband, Earl Glennon Camp Sr., preceded her in death, in 1991. She is survived by three daughters, Patricia Ruth Thompson (Vernon) of Oxford, Mississippi; Phyllis Earlene Thomas (Frankie) of Columbia, Missouri; LaDonna Delores James (Steve) of Mobile, Alabama; one son, Earl Glennon Camp Jr. (Pansy) of Columbia, Missouri; six grandsons and one granddaughter; nine great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter. Also surviving are a brother-in-law, Luther Camp, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, October 3, 2018, at the Schlanker Funeral Home in Montgomery City. The Rev. Rosemary Camp  officiated and interment was in the Montgomery City Cemetery. Visitation was from noon until the time of service on Wednesday at the Schlanker Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Alzheimer's Association or the Missouri Council of the Blind. Condolences may be made to www.schlankerfuneralhome.com .