Marjorie Grace Ruch 1905 - 2006

RUCH, DAVIS, RAW

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 4/27/2022 at 23:26:43

Lancaster New Era
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
24 May 2006

Marjorie Ruch 100, Loving Wife, Mother, and Homemaker

" ..bring us to our resting beds weary and content and undishonored.." R.L Stevenson.

Marjorie Grace Ruch was born July 2, 1905, in Pierson, Iowa, the only child of Grace Davis Raw and Dr. Elmer J. Raw.

She attended Drake University, where she was a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority, and graduated from Grinnell College in 1927. Marjorie taught high school English and history in Larchwood and Sloan, Iowa. In October 1929, the month the market crashed, she married her high school sweetheart, Rex E. Ruch, and moved to Denison, Iowa, where he was the high school agriculture teacher. Two daughters were born to this union, Colene Ann Walden of Washington, D.C., and Patricia Jean Miller of Lancaster. Here married life of 59 years was spent in Denison.

After living at 1626 Broadway for many years, she and her husband built their own home on a hilltop, overlooking a park that they gave to the town. Later they cooperated to build and moved to a four-apartment complex with shared community space (a forerunner of the present retirement community idea). Besides creating a nurturing home for her family, she was active there in the First United Methodist Church, serving as President of the United Methodist Women and Superintendent of the Sunday School, and P.E.O., where she served as President. For a time in Denison she hosted several series of radio programs at the local radio station, KDSN. An enthusiastic bridge player, she also enjoyed golf and water aerobics, remaining physically active almost to the end of her years.

After the death of her husband, Marjorie moved to Willow Valley Manor, Lancaster, in 1990 and became a member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church. While in Lancaster she continued an interest in writing; her letter on healthy aging won in the 90 age category for the state of PA in a contest sponsored by the Educational TV Network. She wrote that the two biggest life choices were that of vocation and mate "Do all you can to get the knowledge, advice, and background to help you make the right choice. Her exemplary life ended May 22, 2006, at Arbor View, Willow Valley Manor.

Besides her two daughters, survivors include seven grandchildren, Jenny and Jessica Walden of the Bay Area, Calif., Dan Miller of Hickory, N.C., Justine Walden and Andrea Jacobsen of the Washington, D.C. area, and Brett Walden and Jeremiah Miller of New York City; as well as three great-grandchildren, Dawson and Nora Miller and Caitlyn Jacobsen.

One precious grandchild, Erin Marjorie Miller, predeceased her to her great grief, which she expressed in poetry. She also expressed herself in beautiful knitted pieces and by capably selected stocks. Her family most thanks her for her sacrifices, love of beauty and home, and the values of integrity, discipline, and responsibility that she has bequeathed to them.

In celebration of Marjories life, a concert of popular music from the 1920s sung by her grandson, Jeremiah Miller, at Willow Valley Retirement Communities will be announced at a later date. Graveside services and interment will take place at Greenwood Cemetery, Pierson, Iowa. In lieu of flowers or contributions, do a good deed in memory of Marjorie, gentle witness to her century of enormous change. Kearney A. Snyder Funeral Home, 394-4097. www.kearneyasnyderfuneral home.com.