A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname
In 1940, two years before her marriage, she was enumerated as a grade school teacher boarding in Chadron, Dawes, Nebraska with the family of William C. Kuffe.
Summarized from the Chadron Record of Thursday, August 20, 2009, Chadron, Nebraska: Zelma D. (Barnum) Rittenhouse, 92, of Aurora, Colorado passed away August 16, 2009 in Aurora. Graveside services will be at the Crawford City Cemetery
Zelma was born on February 19, 1917 to Seth Barnum and Lottie Phillips Barnum in Dawes County, Nebraska.
She attended Crawford High School then graduated from Chadron State Teachers College, where she was elected Blue Key Sweetheart and met her future husband, Leon C. Rittenhouse.
They were married on June 7, 1942 in the Methodist Church. Both were active church members throughout their lives. Shortly after the birth of their oldest son, the couple moved to Annapolis, Md. where Leon was in the Naval Academy. Later a daughter was born in Pensacola, Fla. and then a son, was born in Chadron.
The family later moved to Denver, Colo., but made frequent visits to Leon's farm in Lewellen, and to Zelma's family farm in Crawford.
Zelma was a highly regarded math teacher for 17 years in the Denver Public Schools and a counselor at Kepner Jr. High School. Zelma and Leon were separated in 1989, and divorced in 1991. They remained in contact however until Leon passed away in 2007.
Survivors include: her children, Donald (Suzanne) Rittenhouse, Bonnie (Richard) Skidmore, and David Rittenhouse; two grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Genilia Drown, Ruby Rittenhouse, Georgia Rittenhouse, and Edith Rittenhouse; brother-in-law Merle Rittenhouse, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Zelma was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Darold and Warren Barnum; her sisters-in-law, Margie Barnum, Enid Boggs, and Zella Nash; brothers-in-law, Evan Rittenhouse, Try Rittenhouse, Dallas Rittenhouse, and Eldon Drown.
A Research Guide to the Genealogy of the Barnum/Barnam/Barnham Family Worldwide
AncientFaces - Family History Photos
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