Ruth Anna (Cook) Richard (2005)

BITTICK, BRIGHT, COOK, FENDER, GRAHAM, HADLEY, LUNDAHL, LYNCH, MORGAN, NIDAY, RICHARD, SPACH, WOLFE, ZELLWEGER

Posted By: Eileen Reed
Date: 11/8/2023 at 18:04:38

The Des Moines Register
Des Moines, Iowa
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Page 4, Column 6

RUTH RICHARD
Humeston

Ruth Anna (Cook) Richard was born in Macksburg, Iowa, July 20, 1916 to Theodore and Mary Miranda (Hadley) Cook. Ruth was one of 11 children and the last to survive.

When she was eight years old the family moved to Long Beach, California, returning to Iowa when she was a teen. She lived with her brother, Ted and his wife, Mamie, and attended Humeston Public Schools, where her brother, Ted was a superintendent.

In 1933 she married Forrest D. Richard. To this union were born three children, Glenys, Don and Dell. Ruth was a very caring and devoted wife, daughter-in-law, mother, mother-in-law, aunt, sister, sister-in-law, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her life revolved around making a good home for her husband and her children. She was the one who kept track of all the immediate and extended family with phone calls, letters, flowers and encouragement. She was a great support for all of them. Sharing time with her grandchildren was probably the greatest joy of her life.

Ruth was involved in many different aspects of the Methodist Church in Humeston, where she was a long-time member. She was active in the American Legion Auxiliary, Brevity Club and Matron's Bridge. She loved a good political discussion. She and her late husband, Frosty, actively supported many of Humeston's young people through 30 years of college scholarships as well as through personal involvement with many individuals.

The last segment of her life was devoted to caring for her husband until his death in 2002. With her devotion and loyalty to Frosty, she was a role model for all the family.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, "Frosty"; her parents, Theodore and Miranda; brothers, Ted, George, Arnold, Bill, Charles and Joe; sisters, Dorothy Zellweger, Hazel Spach, Mildred Fender and Esther Wolfe; son-in-law, Chuck Bittick; and granddaughter, Michelle Lynn Richard.

Ruth is survived by her three children, Glenys Bittick (David) Lynch of West Des Moines, Donald Forrest (Sondra) Richard of Humeston and Dell Alan (Mary) Richard of Iowa City; grandchildren, Scott Bit-tick of Des Moines, Craig (Paula) Bittick of West Des Moines, Alan Richard of Houston, Texas, Jan (David) Lundahl of Humeston, Debra (Guy) Morgan of Vista, California and John and Michael Richard of Iowa city; great-grandchildren, Andy Graham of Humeston, Courtney and Derek Bittick of Des Moines, Stephen and Joseph Bittick of West Des Moines and Keiana Morgan of Vista, California; sisters-in-law, Kathleen Cook of Corning, Vera Cook of Ames and Erma Niday and Mildred Bright, both of Humeston; many nieces and nephews also survive.

Ruth died May 28, 2005 at the Wayne County Hospital in Corydon, Iowa. Services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 1, 2005 at the Humeston Christian United Methodist Church in Humeston. Visitation will be held 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the church with the family present. Arrangements are through Slade-0'Donnell Funeral Home in Leon (641-446-6211).

In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials to Iowa Public Television, 6535 Corporate Drive, Johnston, Iowa, Humeston Area Youth Group, Humeston Fire Department or Humeston American Legion Auxiliary.

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