Jacobs, Ruth Krehbiel (1897-1960)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1960 May 5 p. 3

Birth date:

text of obituary:

WORKSHOP CANCELLED DUE TO SUDDEN DEATH OF MRS. RUTH JACOBS

The Junior Choir Directors Workshop scheduled for this week at the Bethel College Mennonite church was cancelled due to the unexpected death in Oklahoma City, Okla. of Mrs. Ruth Krehbiel Jacobs, who was to be the workshop director.

Mrs. Krehbiel died Saturday, April 30, while conducting a workshop in Oklahoma City. She was the daughter of the late Rev. H. J. Krehbiel, longtime pastor of the First Mennonite church of Reedley, Calif., and was nationally known for her work in the field of junior choirs.

Among the survivors are two brothers, Walter and Arthur Krehbiel of Reedley.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1979 Mar 27 p. 226

Birth date: 1897

text of obituary:

Ruth Krehbiel was born at Trenton, Ohio, where her father served his first pastorate. Her education included a BA from Bluffton College, 1918; a year of graduate studies at the University of California, 1918-19; and Hochschule für Musik (University of Berlin), 1922-24.

Ruth taught at Union High School in Sanger, California, 1920-22, and was assistant professor of singing and theory at Bluffton College, 1924-28.

Her father, Henry J. Krehbiel, was founding board member of Bluffton College, president of the General Conference Mennonite Church, the only American delegate to the first Mennonite World Conference at Basel, Switzerland, in 1925, and chairperson of the committee that published the first English Mennonite Hymnary.

Ruth Krehbiel married Leslie Jacobs, minister of music at Worcester, Massachusetts. Ruth became director of music at another church in the same city.

She gave much time and energy to music seminars and children's choirs. Jacobs was the founder and first president of the National Choristers' Guild. Its main purpose has been “the development of Christian character through children's choirs.” Two books were published by Ruth Krehbiel Jacobs: The Children's Choir (Augustana) and The Successful Children's Choir (H. T. Fitzsimmons).

John T. Burke, executive director of the Choristers Guild, was a colleague of Ruth's in the ministry of music at First Congregational Church, Los Angeles, where Leslic Jacobs was director. Burke writes in the May 1978 Choristers Guild LETTERS: "Very early in out association I was aware of Ruth Jacob's marvelous gifts, not only musically, but personally. Her delightful sense of humor, her quiet yet effective ways, her ingratiating smile, and the warmth of her spirit were infectious. Her dedication to children was all-consuming...."

Ruth krehbiel Jacobs died on the podium in 1960 (of a heart attack) while conducting a music seminar. Her last home was in Santa Barbara, California.

Data complied with the aid of Earl W. Lehman, chairperson of the Bluffton College music department, and Walter H. Krehbiel. Box 95, Davenport, California 95017 (a brother to Ruth).

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Find a Grave Memorial ID: 87971742