Vitula Ruth Lungren

Vitula "Tuda" Ruth (Hood) Lungren died August 1, 2025 at Kansas City Hospice Care, Kansas City, Missouri. She was born on November 11, 1932 in Kansas City, Missouri, the daughter of Clyde B and Harriett (Watkins) Hood, Sr. Some friends of her parents suggested that her name be Ann Arma because she was born on Armistice Day. They opted instead to name her Vitula Ruth in honor of her father’s sister Vitula Ruth (Hood) Ryker. She got the nickname of Tuda from her two older brothers who being very young boys and unable to pronounce Vitula but could eek out Tuda. Along with her two older brothers, she attended Sanford B. Ladd Elementary School in Kansas City until 1943 which was when her father enlisted in the United States Army during World War II and the family moved to Columbus, Ohio. At the end of the war, the family lived for a while in El Dorado, Kansas to be close to her mother’s family. In 1946, the family moved to Kansas City, Kansas where Tuda attended and graduated from Wyandotte High School. After high school, Tuda attended and graduated from the University of Missouri in Columbia with a BS in education and was a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority. On August 6, 1960 in Kansas City, Missouri, she married Raymond Sterling Lungren. In July 1962, they were blessed with the birth of their only child Martha Jean Lungren. Tuda taught school for several years at Kansas City Christian School and in the Kansas City, Missouri school district. She taught Sunday School at the Independence Avenue Baptist Church. She also volunteered at City Union Mission, a homeless shelter. Tuda and Ray lived for many years in the northeast area of Kansas City, Missouri before moving to the Strawberry Hill district of Kansas City, Kansas in the late 1980s. Much like her namesake, Tuda was devoted to her immediate and extended family. Nieces, nephews and cousins could always count on getting birthday and Christmas cards from Tuda to almost the very end of her life. One of the things that Tuda loved the most were the family’s animals. Fourteen years ago, she and Martha adopted a Yorkshire Terrier from a rescue shelter and after one week they decided on the name Benji. He is the sweetest dog that they ever had. He is adorable, kind, caring and very loving little guy. She loved all the other dogs, but Benji was her favorite. Tuda was a devout Christian and a member of the Armourdale Baptist Church for many years. According to her wishes, upon her death her body was donated to the University of Kansas Medical Center for medical research. Tuda was proceeded in death by her husband, her parents and her three brothers C.B., Frank and Clark. She is survived by her daughter Martha and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. On Saturday, August 16th at the Armourdale Baptist Church, 700 South Mill Street, Kansas City, Kansas, there will be a visitation for Tuda at 11:00 am with a memorial service to follow at 12:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to a local animal shelter in Tuda’s memory.