CUNNINGHAM, Ruth Lee 1941-2011
CUNNINGHAM, TRIPLETT, PERKINS, FOSTER, GRAVES, HUGHES
Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 9/9/2011 at 01:15:36
[Waterloo Courier, Monday, July 4, 2011]
WATERLOO - Ruthie Lee Cunningham, 69, of Waterloo, died Thursday, June 30, 2011, at Covenant Medical Center.
Ruthie was born Oct. 7, 1941, to Bennie and Lillie Triplett in Durant, Miss. She married Walter L. Cunningham Sr. on June 26, 1964, in Waterloo.
Ruth graduated from Waterloo East High in 1959. She received her Diploma of Nursing from the Allen-Lutheran School of Nursing in 1976. She earned her bachelor's degree in Community Health Education from the University of Northern Iowa in 1986. In 1993 she earned her Iowa Teacher Certification from the University of Iowa. She was in the process of earning her master's degree in Continuing Education.
Ruthie had over 30 years of successful nursing and health education experience. She began her career as the Graduate Nurse at Chamberlain Manufacturing. She then was employed by Black Hawk County as a Public County Health Nurse. After which, she returned to the industrial health care setting as a staff nurse for John Deere Component Works. Ruth then moved into the area of health education as a PN-ADN Nursing Instructor for Hawkeye Community College, where she was the lead instructor for the PN level nursing students. Ruth's community involvement included Board of Directors for the YMCA, YWCA, Birthright, and was the Creator/Director of the Health/Wholeness Show on Iowa Public Access Television. In addition to the above, she was a foundation board member for Allen Memorial Hospital.
The best word that sums up Ruthie is "love." Her love for God, her husband, her children, her family, and the world around could not be mistaken or overlooked. Her faith was the major aspect that fueled her life. This was also evident by the many students whom she touched, who to this day, still reflect on her professional passion and love. She will forever be remembered as "Momma Ruthie" to those who had the fortunate pleasure of being in her presence for any length of time. She was the quiet backbone for a family whose achievements were vast and numerous, and for this we, the family, offer a heartfelt thank you.
She is survived by four sons, Jeff Perkins, wife of Marilyn, of Iowa City, Walt Jr., partner Eric, of Chicago, Everett, wife Chinazo, of Nyack, N.Y., and Benjamin, wife Jill, of Omaha, Neb.; her mother, Lillie Perkins, husband Claude; one sister, Doris Foster, husband Scott; sister-in-law, Ella Graves; brother-in-law, Edgar Cunningham; six granddaughters; four grandsons; one great-granddaughter; and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews.
Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Walt, Sr.; and sister-in-law, Edna Hughes.
Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Prairie Lakes Church, Cedar Falls, with burial in Garden of Memories Cemetery, Waterloo. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Kearns, Huisman-Schumacher Chapel on Kimball and one hour prior to the service at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests, that those who desire, may donate to the: Walter & Ruthie Cunningham Scholarship, c/o Waterloo Fund for Excellence in Education, 1516 Washington St., Waterloo, IA 50702.
Black Hawk Obituaries maintained by Karen De Groote.
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