Smith, Ruth (Sanborn) 1876 - 1959

SMITH, SANBORN, MERRIMAN, SIMONNS, RICE

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 7/27/2018 at 10:10:04

Clayton County Register, Thur., 5 Feb. 1959.

Mrs. G. A. Smith.

Ruth Sanborn Smith, 82, was born March 30, 1876, at Lime Springs, one of ten children, five boys and five girls, of the family of Lucius and Mary Jane Sanborn.

On April 14, 1897, she was married to Arthur Smith at Volga. For a few months their home was in Edgewood, where Arthur was employed in the Dunsmore hardware. They returned to Volga and shortly thereafter acquired possession of the hardware store in Volga. This has been their home since 1900.

Two children were born: Mrs. W. N. (Winifred) Merriman, Cedar Rapids, and Glen Smith of Grinnell.

On July 9, 1957, her husband, Arthur, died. She lived at Volga until the fall of 1958, when she went to Grinnell. Mrs. Smith died Jan. 25, 1959, at the Community Hospital in Grinnell.

She was a long-time member of the Volga Methodist Church, a member of the Royal Neighbor lodge, and a former member of the Order of the Eastern Star.

Besides the two children, she is survived by two brothers, Lute and Will Sanborn, of Lime Springs; four grandchildren, Ruth Merriman Rice, Des Moines; Marcus Merriman, Rochester, N.Y.; Arthur Lee Smith, Grinnell; and Donna Smith Simonns, Marion; and nine great-grandchildren.

Services were held Wednesday at the Methodist Church at 1:30 p.m., with the Rev. Alfred Christensen, pastor, in charge. Music was provided by Mrs. Wallace Oldfather, organist, who accompanied Mrs. James Whitford and Don Whitford, vocalists.

Flower bearers were Mrs. F. P. Gernand and Mrs. C. A. Brandt. Casket bearers were Albert Kunzman, G. W. Crandall, L. C. Richards, F. P. Gernand, H. A. Tenney, and Ted Leete. Burial was in Hill Crest cemetery, Volga.

Relatives and friends from out of town who were present at the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Herb Kerr, Mason City; Lute Sanborn and Will Sanborn, Lime Springs; Mrs. Lucian Appelman, Clermont; Mrs. Willis Rice, Des Moines; Mrs. M. Caughey, Grinnell; Mrs. Marguerite Thyne, Miss Phyllis Theobald and Miss Elizabeth Engler, Iowa City.

Dr. and Mrs. John Smith, Arlington; Mr. and Mrs. Glen Smith, Grinnell; Mr. and Mrs. Walter N. Merriman, Cedar Rapids; Jim Whitford, Oelwein; Leslie Whitford, Grand Forks, N.D.; Mrs. Corinne McGuiness, Sumner; and Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Lee Smith and son Tommy of Grinnell.