Merna M. Ruch Ewalt 1919-2002

EWALT, RUCH, MAY, VINTON, RUNNER, LONG, BAUGHMAN

Posted By: C. Tucker (email)
Date: 5/4/2011 at 15:53:28

Times Republican
Marshalltown, IA [Wednesday 2-6-2002] p. 2A

MERNA M. EWALT, 82

Merna M. Ewalt, age 82, of 801 E. South St., formerly of 2669 206th St., Marshalltown, died Monday, Feb. 4, 2002, at the Marshalltown Medical & Surgical Center. Funeral services will be held Thursday, Feb. 7, 2002, at Pursel-Davis Funeral Home & Crematory, at 1 p.m. with Minister Helmer Peterson of Liscomb Church of Christ, officiating. Visiting hours will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday. Burial will be at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens in Marshalltown. A memorial fund has been established in her name. Merna was born Aug. 7, 1919, at Bridgewater, Iowa, the daughter of Benjamin F. and Nora B. May Ruch. Her family moved to the Albion area where she was raised and educated. She graduated from the Albion High School with the class of 1937, and played on the Albion Women's Basketball team. On Dec. 9, 1937, Merna was united in marriage to Ralph D. “Ike” Ewalt in Marshalltown. During her early years of marriage, she was employed as a housekeeper with the Flamingo and Thunderbird motels of Marshalltown. She and her husband retired in 1982. Merna is survived by her four children: Richard (Patricia) Ewalt, Marshalltown; Karen (Mrs. Robert) Vinton, Whitten, Donald (Royla) Ewalt, Marshalltown, and LaDonna (Mrs. Brian) Runner, Laurel; two sisters: Thelma Long and Lozetta Baughman, both of Marshalltown; 11 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and step-father, husband Ralph Ewalt on Oct. 16, 2001, twin grandsons – Dwayne and Dwight, six brothers and one sister.