Ruth Irene KOCH, 1909-1917

KOCH, WALKER

Posted By: Marsha B. Crawford (email)
Date: 5/30/2003 at 03:24:23

Obituary #1:

Ruth Irene, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Koch, was born near Miles, on the 22d day of January, 1909, and died September 19, 1917, in the room she was born in, at the age of 8 years; 7 months, and 27 days.

Like a beautiful flower unfolding its petals to the sunshine and exhibiting its delicate traceries, touched in its very unfolding by the vitalizing forces about it into greater beauty and strength, and then suddenly being to decline and gradually fading away, so Ruth, after seven years of promising development, was suddenly attacked by an insidious and fatal malady and slowly faded out of sight.

Ruth was a lovable little girl, quiet and thoughtful beyond her years and remarkably patient and self sacrificing under the limitations and deprivations incident to the progress of the disease which had fastened upon her.

She held very realistic views of heaven, and tried to give comfort on the death of her grandpa Koch by saying, “Sister Gladys will not be lonely now with grandpa Koch there.”

Now she has joined that company and will be forever free from the power of that foe that harassed her here and finally overcame her.

She leaves her bereaved parents, two younger sisters, her elder sister, Gladys, having deceased, and a large number of relatives and friends.

The funeral services were conducted by her pastor, Rev. L. L. Lockard assisted by Rev. J. H. Skiles, pastor of the Cong’l church, on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 20th, in the Methodist Episcopal church.

The choir composed of Mrs. W. P. McFaul, Mrs. Muriel Menneke and Isabell Struve, with Mrs. W. P. Rhodes at the organ, rendered very appropriate music, which the large audience and sorrowing friends duly appreciated. The pall bearers, boys from the public school, were Wendell Rhodes, Glen Cook, Marvin Jargo, Leon Walker, Gilbert Bartlett, and Henry Lange.

Her body was interred in the beautiful Miles cemetery, there to await the resurrection of the just.

As published in a Jackson Co., Iowa, newspaper September 1917.

Obituary #2:

LITTLE RUTH KOCH DIES AT FAMILY HOME IN MILES
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(Miles News.)

Little Ruth the bright little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Koch passed away Wednesday morning. She had been in poor health for some time, but it was not thought the end would be so soon but Monday she became suddenly worse and could not stand the ravages of disease. She was an exceptionally bright child and seemed very fond of books and of her school work. Within the past two weeks her parents purchased school books for her, she telling them she must study at home or she would be behind with her class. Funeral services were held in the M. E. church at Miles yesterday afternoon where a large number of relatives and friends gathered.