Ruth Josephine Serrill Piper (1918-2010)

PIPER, SERRILL, CLARKE, PARKER, KEMP

Posted By: Nevada Journal
Date: 10/3/2010 at 12:19:08

THE NEVADA JOURNAL, Nevada, Story County, Iowa, Thursday, September 23, 2010.

Ruth Josephine Serrill was born on December 14, 1918 in Waterloo, IA. Funeral services will be held this Friday, Sept. 24, at the Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ, beginning at 3 p.m.

She was the third of four children of G.D. and Josephine Serrill. Ruth graduated high school in Sioux City, IA and went on to get her liberal arts degree from Drake University in Des Moines, IA. She taught English in Rossie, IA for a year. Ruth and Gail S. Piper were married on June 8, 1941, by her father, Rev.G.D. Serrill. in Spencer, IA.

The couple lived in Spencer and Des Moines, and settled in Nevada, Iowa where they raised their family. They lived in RI for a time during WWII. After her children were older, Ruth went back to teaching high school English in Shipley and Roland, IA. In 1970 she became the town librarian in Nevada. She and Gail both retired in 1978 to do extensive traveling throughout the U.S, Europe, Scandinavia, the Holy Land, and Japan. They wintered in AZ and TX.

The church was Ruth’s source of faith, fellowship and lifelong friends. Ruth and Gail took part in building the new First Christian Church in Nevada. Ruth continued her love of music by singing in the choir for many years. She also enjoyed cooking and entertaining friends, sewing, knitting, playing bridge, and especially reading.

Ruth moved to Attic Angel Place in Madison, WI in July, 2001. She enjoyed meeting new friends there, in PEO and at her new church. She participated in many of the activities offered.

Ruth’s family always came first. When Gail died they had been married for 51 years. She is survived by her sister, Marian Clarke of Minneapolis, MN, son David (Norma) of Estacada, OR, daughter Lynn (Monte Parker) of WA and AZ, and son Douglas (Mary) of Madison, WI, 7 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Ruth was preceded in death by her sister Jean and husband Charles Kemp and brother Julian and wife Evelyn Serrill and brother-in-law Ernest Clarke.

Ruth will be buried next to her husband in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery near LeGrande, IA on Saturday, September 25, 2010. Memorials may be made in Ruth’s name to Schools of Hope (P.O. Box 5414, Madison, WI 53705) to provide books for homeless children.

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