Strubhar, Ruth Cressman (1921-1955)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1955 May 19 p. 8

Birth date: 1921 Aug 2

text of obituary:

RUTH CRESSMAN STRUBAR

Ruth (Cressman) Strubhar, daughter of Curtis C. and Amanda (Byler) Cressman, was born August 2, 1921, and passed away to be with her Lord on April 23, 1955, in her 34th year.

On May 29, 1954, she was married to Clifford Strubhar of Culp, Arkansas, and together they served the Lord in this part of His vineyard.

Ruth spent her childhood and early womanhood in the home community of her parents at New Hamburg, Ontario. After completing her elementary, high school, Bible school, and nursing education she served as a nurse at Braeside Home, Preston, Ontario, at Hannibal, Mo. and Hesston College, Hesston, Kansas. She received her college training at Hesston and at Goshen College, Goshen, Ind.

After receiving a call by the Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, Elkhart, Ind., to specialized nursing service in the Arkansas field she went to Kentucky and took the Frontier Nursing Service Course. She had become a Christian in her early teens, and her purpose in her entire preparation and training was that she might serve the Lord and the church she loved.

She began her nursing service in Arkansas at the Culp Clinic in early May, 1952. In addition to being a kind and capable nurse, she proved to be a faithful and able teacher in various summer Bible school and Sunday school classes, and in other areas of the Lord’s work. She was the type of person that makes and keeps friends. Many people grieve deeply and sincerely in this loss.

Ruth had the tender heart, the gentle touch, and the unassuming manner so deeply appreciated in a Christian nurse. Harmonizing with her meek and quiet spirit was a deep spirituality, a well disciplined mind, and a ready hand that proved fruitful and efficient in a variety of circumstances and activities. In home building she was as devoted and loving as she had previously been in other work. It became the great desire of her heart to have a normal, happy family life in a Christian home, but when the Lord called her to her eternal home she was ready to go.

In her early passing she leaves her beloved husband, her father and mother; two sisters, Lillian (Mrs. Gordon Bean) of New Dundee, Ontario, and Elsie, presently of Tanganyika, East Africa, mission field; and one brother Howard, New Hamburg, Ontario.

Funeral services were conducted at Culp, Ark. where she was a member at the Bethel Springs Mennonite church on Sunday, April 24, 1955 in charge of the pastor, Frank Horst, assisted by M. E. Bontreger. Text: Rev. 14: 13.

A second service was held at the parental home congregation, the Biehn Mennonite church, New Ham burg, Ontario on Wednesday, April 27 in charge of Moses Roth. Text: Matt. 9:24. Assisting in the service there were J. B. Martin, vice-president of the Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, and Frank Horst of the Culp, Ark. field. A very impressive part of each of these services was the personal testimony of Ruth’s father, C. C. Cressman.

“We shall sleep, but not forever,
There shall be a glorious dawn.
We shall meet, to part, no never!
On the resurrection morn.”