Memorials

Ruth Elizabeth Ramsey, 91, of Columbia City, died at 4:10 p.m. Tuesday, September 16, 2008, at The Oaks Living Center.
She was born at her home on the Saunder Farms near Columbia City, a daughter of George LeRoy and Clara (Bennett) Leininger on January 26, 1917. She attended Coesse School with 12 years of perfect attendance. After her 1934 graduation, she was employed as a felling operator at Blue Bell.
Ruth and Harland R. Ramsey met during the summer of 1932. They were married on Harland’s 21st birthday, April 19, 1937, at the Grace Lutheran Parsonage. They thought they were keeping their marriage a secret, but word got out and there was a “belling” for the newlyweds at Ruth’s mother’s home in Coesse.
Ruth did sewing alterations in her home and worked in the Tot & Teen Department at Blumenthals until they closed. She then worked at Roma’s Smart Shop and retired in 1987 from Betty’s Smart Shop.
After Harland’s death on April 23, 1972, Ruth took driver’s training which allowed her to drive to Louisiana to visit her brother, James Leininger, and his family. She enjoyed traveling tour groups to Washington D.C., Hawaii, Canada, Europe and throughout the United States. One of the highlights of her many trips to Albuquerque, New Mexico to see her daughter and her family, Beth, Don, Trudy, Cathy and Peggy, was the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta.
A member of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, her memories of teaching Sunday School for 42 years (of which she was Superintendant for 29 years) was a source of strength for her as she battled dementia. She loved to sing “Jesus Loves Me.” Thanks to the support of the Grace Lutheran Parish Health Nurse, she was able to stay in her home until January 2003 when she became a resident at The Oaks.
Surviving relatives include her daughter, Beth (Don) Cretsinger of Albuquerque, New Mexico; granddaughters, Trudy (David) of Topeka, Kansas, and their children, Benjamin and Catalina; Cathy (Tom) of Redwood City, California and Peggy Diane (Lew) of Albuquerque, New Mexico and their twin sons, Ian and Gavin; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Phil LeRoy Leininger and James Leslie Leininger.
The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City with Rev. Dr. C. James Cress, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, officiating. The burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery. The visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
For those who wish, memorials may be made to Grace Lutheran Church or donor’s favorite charity.