Ruth, Emma Mary (1891-1965)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1965 Apr 29 p. 7

Birth date: 1891 Sep 26

text of obituary:

Retired Teacher Dies at Reedley

Reedley, Calif. — Funeral services for Emma Ruth, former teacher of missionary children in India who died here April 19 were held at the First Mennonite Church of Reedley on Thursday, April 22, at 10:00 a.m. She had been in the hospital since the Thursday preceding her death.

Miss Ruth was born in Halstead, Kansas and spent her childhood years there. She moved to California in 1915.

She was active in General Conference work, the California Convention and Young People's Retreat, Pacific District Conference work, and the California State Christian Endeavor.

After serving as a teacher most of her life, she spent her latter years in India as a music teacher in schools for missionary children. From 1947 to 1958 she taught at Kodaikanal in South India and from 1958 to 1963 at Woodstock School, Landour, in the mountains of northern India.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1965 May 27 p. 11

text of obituary:

EMMA MARY RUTH

Miss Emma Mary Ruth of Reedley, Calif., daughter of John A and Clara (Eymann) Ruth, was born Sept. 26, 1891 near Halstead, Kan. When she was two and one-half years old she moved with her family to a farm near Hesston, Kan. where they lived until they moved to Reedley in the spring of 1915.

She attended the district school near her home through the elementary grades, following which she attended the Bethel Academy in North Newton, Kan. After one year at the academy, when 17 years of age, she taught for one year in the same elementary school from which she had graduated. She was privileged to take lessons on the piano and began teaching her first pupils also at an early age.

After this year of teaching she returned to the academy where she finished her high school education, graduating with a major in music. She also began her college work during this time. After moving to California, she continued her education in summer school and at the University of California for two years, from which she graduated in 1925.

Upon her confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as her Savior, she was baptized by Rev. S. S. Baumgartner on Nov. 18, 1906. At this time she became a member of the Garden Township Mennonite Church, where she was a faithful member until her death.

She made piano teaching her career, which she began in Kansas and continued upon moving to California.

In 1947 she went to India, where she taught piano at the Kodaikanal School and the Woodstock School until 1963 when she retired because of ill health.

While she was greatly interested in music, her main interest was serving the Lord which, because of her many talents, she was able to do through various avenues. She was a Sunday school teacher, a youth leader, a Christian Endeavor worker, a speaker on many occasions, a choir director, and for many years was accompanist for the Men's Chorus of the First Mennonite Church.

Because of her winsome personality and the many contacts she made in the various areas of her work, she won many friends from various parts of the world. After returning from India the last time, she regained her health to a reasonable degree and was able to engage in some of her favorite activities again.

On April 15, 1965, she became suddenly ill and it was found necessary for her to undergo major abdominal surgery. Her heart was unable to withstand the strain, and the Lord saw fit to call her to himself on April 19, 1965.

She leaves to cherish the memory of her full and abundant life one sister, Mrs. E. A. Dettweiler, and one brother, A. D. Ruth, both of Reedley, 18 nieces and nephews, a number of grandnieces and nephews, other relatives, and a host of friends.

The Mennonite obituary: 1965 May 11 p. 319