ROBERTS, Ruth Elizabeth (WALDEN)

TABBUT, WALDEN, ROBERTS

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/25/2016 at 23:52:37

BIOGRAPHY ~ RUTH ELIZABETH (WALDEN) ROBERTS
Graceland University, Lamoni, Iowa

Ruth Elizabeth Roberts was born on March 16, 1902, in Bemidji, Minnesota, the daughter of Elisha Henry and Grace Miriam (Tabbut) Walden.

The former Ruth Walden was enrolled in the Graceland academy from 1919 to 1922, and received her A.A. degree from the college in 1924. Widowed in 1935, just six months after the birth of her son, Ruth embarked on a life as a single career woman. She continued her education in home economics at the University of Iowa, completing her bachelor's degree in 1938, and her master's in 1939. Before joining Graceland's faculty, Ruth worked as a principal in the Lamoni school system and taught home economics at Coffeyville Junior College in Kansas.

Ruth returned to Graceland to teach home economics in 1940, and directed that department until retiring as professor emerita in 1967.

Although she taught courses in cooking and (primarily) clothing - areas often associated with homemaking - Ruth was a strong advocate of women pursuing an education and a career. She was the first sponsor of the Home Economics Club upon its start in 1940-41, and later sponsored the Crescents. Ruth's brother, Evan Walden, was employed from 1929 to 1952 as Graceland's Physical Plant director.

After retirement, Ruth maintained her home in Lamoni before moving to Denver, Colorado, in 1993.

Ruth's husband, Byron Joseph Roberts, was born in Tabor, Iowa, on March 20, 1905, and died in Lamoni on March 12, 1935. He was interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Lamoni, Iowa.

Ruth died on December 15, 1996, in Denver, Colorado.

SOURCE:
Goehner, David. "The Graceland College Book of Knowledge: From A To Z." p. 434. Herald House. Independence MO. 1997.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2016

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