Ottavia May (Gillespie) Ludwick

Ottavia May Ludwick, 90, of Sterling, Kansas, passed away August 21, 2024, at Hospice House, Hutchinson. She was born May 23, 1934, in Kansas City, Missouri, the daughter of Robert and Margaret (Mezzacasa) Gillespie. Ottavia was a near lifelong Sterling resident. She attended Chase High School, Chase, Kansas. Ottavia was a nurse aide at Sterling Hospital in her early years, was co-owner of Ludwick Well Service and a homemaker. She was a founding member of Faith Baptist Church in Hutchinson, KS and faithfully attended for over 50 years. Ottavia enjoyed bowling, camping, fishing, traveling, cooking, hosting friends and family, and most of all spending time with her grandchildren. On April 4, 1952, Ottavia was united in marriage with Sheldon Ludwick in Alden, Kansas. He preceded her in death on July 2, 2009. She is also preceded in death by her parents; son-in-law, Mark “Dutch” Kuhn; six brothers, Dell Gillespie, Robert “Buck” Gillespie, William “Bill” Gillespie, Herman “Slick” Gillespie, John Gillespie, and Curtis Gillespie; five sisters, Mary Neal, Edith Orster, Minnie “Midget” Wheeler, Goldie “Nip” Gates, and Betty Gillespie. Ottavia is survived by her four children, Rick Ludwick and wife Carol of Sterling, KS, Diane Humphreys and husband John of Sidney, NE, Shirley Kuhn of Sterling, KS, and Connie Lacey and husband Craig of Sterling, KS; sister-in-law, Hughlene Gillespie of Chase, KS; thirteen grandchildren, Jessica Schmidt (Clark), Aaron Ludwick (Renee), Andy Ludwick (Kaci), Kate Kalinowski (Josh), Luke Humphreys (Sarah), Lesley Euston (Michael), Rebecca Kuhn (Alan Newton), Kelly John Kuhn, Michelle Leonard (Travis), Jared Lacey, Christina Rowland (Jarrod), Candice Whitcomb (Nathan), and David Lacey (Casie); thirty-three great-grandchildren, Debi, Wyatt, Waylon, Brendon, Madison, Linlee, Caden, Brady, Madison, Grace, Wyatt, Reagan, Hayden, Cooper, Harper, Hannah, Conor, Judah, Israel, Marah, Cason, Cara, Isaac, Lacey, Lauren, Leah, Isaiah, Amy, Joel, Betsy, Adam, Aden, and Anna, and great-great-grandson, Wade. Funeral service will be at 10:00 A.M., Monday, August 26, 2024, at Calvary Baptist Church, Sterling, with Pastor Dale Jordan officiating. Burial will follow at the Alden Valley Cemetery, Alden. Visitation will be from 2:00 until 4:00 P.M., Sunday, August 25, 2024, at Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling, with family present. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Calvary Baptist Church (for the AWANA program) or Hospice House, Hutchinson in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling.

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