The Rev. Elaine Ruth

RUTH, STAPH

Posted By: Ruth Maring - Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/4/2006 at 12:28:24

The Clinton Herald
Published: November 03, 2006 01:30 pm

The Rev. Elaine Ruth

SERVICES: 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 8231 Callaghan Road, with the Rev. Michelle Vetter officiating. Sunset Northwest Funeral Home, San Antonio, is in charge of arrangements.

SAN ANTONIO — The Rev. Elaine Ruth, 85, of San Antonio, died Oct. 23.

Interment will be in Fairview Cemetery, Winnie-Stowell, Texas.

She was born Feb. 12, 1921, to J. Roland and Myrtle B. Ruth in Hamshire, Texas.

She attended the Texas State College for Women, majoring in library science. She served as a medical missionary in Africa. She attended Parkland Hospital School of Nursing, Dallas. She graduated in 1943. She received a bachelor’s degree in nursing education from the University of Texas’ medical branch in Galveston, Texas, and joined the faculty at the Oklahoma School of Nursing. She later returned to the University of Texas at Austin to complete a master’s in counseling and guidance. She later entered McCormick Theological Seminary and studied to become a minister of education in the Presbyterian church.

She joined the U.S. Army Nurse Corps and was sent to William Beaumont Army Hospital, El Paso, Texas. She trained to become a nurse anesthetist and was promoted to first lieutenant. She was ordered to the Pacific Theater in August of 1945. She resigned her commission in 1947.

She taught at the Aultman School of Nursing, Canton, Ohio, until becoming associate professor of nursing arts at the new School of Nursing at the University of South Dakota at Vermillion.

She served at First Presbyterian Church, Clinton; South Park Presbyterian Church, Rock Island, Ill., and Lakewood Presbyterian Church, Lakewood, Ohio. After completing her studies, she was ordained and installed as an assistant pastor at Lakewood. The following year she was pastor of Riverside Presbyterian Church, Clinton until retiring in 1986.

She was an active volunteer at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, San Antonio.

Memorials may be made to St. Andrew Presbyterian Church or to Alzheimer’s Disease Research, American Health Assistance Foundation, 22512 Gateway Center Drive, Clarksburg, MD 20871.

Survivors include one sister, Rachel Evelyn (Dr. Horace) Staph; four nieces; three nephews; five great-nieces and nephews; and one brother, Arthur Paul Ruth of Hamshire.

Death date: Oct. 23, 2006