Ruth Marie (Grafft) Anderson, daughter of Earl Crouch and Nellie May (Bearce) Grafft was born on July 18, 1917 in Lipscomb County, Texas. She passed away on Monday, May 2, 2011 in Elm Heights Care Center, in Shenandoah, Iowa at the age of 93 years.
Ruth started first grade in Shady Brook Country School located in Amity township of Page County and graduated from Amity High School in College Springs in 1935. She attended Monmouth College in Illinois from 1935-1936.
On January 18, 1939, Ruth married Lowell Kermit Anderson in the College Springs Presbyterian Church parsonage. Following their marriage, they lived and farmed in Colfax Township of Page County. To this union they were blessed with seven children: Judith, Joyce, Linda, David, Paul, Ellen and Lucinda. They celebrated 68 years of marriage.
Ruth was an active member of the College Springs Presbyterian Church and her community. She was the church organist and pianist, taught Sunday School and Bible School, was a member of the choir and held the office of Trustee. She sang or played the organ for many weddings and funerals and also sang with the Farm Bureau Chorus. She was a member of the Home Circle Neighborhood Club, and was a cook at South Page High School. Ruth and Lowell enjoyed taking soup to shut-ins and visiting rest home residents. Ruth enjoyed raising a large garden, chickens, flowers, and making cinnamon rolls, cookies, jams and jellies for family and friends. Ruth was well known for her poetry. Family and friends never knew when one of Ruth's poems was going to show up. She would write them for birthdays, anniversaries, happy times, and sad. Ruth's life was filled with love and devotion to her faith, her husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and church family.
Preceding Ruth in death were her parents, her husband, Lowell in 2007, siblings Margaret Dickey, Ross Grafft, Dale Grafft, Charles Grafft, Dean Grafft, Vernon Grafft and Iris Browning; and granddaughter Susan Barlow. Those left to cherish her memory include her 7 children, 19 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. Judith Nelson of Lake Barrington, IL, her son Samuel Nelson and daughter Melinda Nelson and her children Cassidy and Reese Axtman and Willow Nelson; Joyce Richardson of Cameron, MO and her son Donald Richardson; son Darien Richardson and wife Chontel and children Cameron and Marissa; daughter Krista Helton and husband Jim and children Jared and Josh Thompson; Linda Meyer and husband Keith of Shenandoah, IA and daughter Lisa Carlson and husband Terry, and children Jenna Steeve, husband Chad, and Jaimee Carlson; son Craig Barlow, son Chad Barlow and his child Chelsey Barlow; David Anderson and wife Jenell of Coin, IA, son Lee Anderson and wife Susan and children Evan and Maia Anderson; daughter Lori Ruscko and husband Jerry and children Claire and Elijah Wood; Paul Anderson and wife Karen of Coin, IA and son Matthew Anderson and wife Kerri and children Madalynn, Anna, Grant and Colin; son Mark Anderson and wife Meridith and children Emma and Graeme; son Eric Anderson and wife Dawn and children Emily and Elijah; daughter Kristin Fast and husband Dustin and children Cody, Evan and Mackenzie; daughter Jill King and husband John and children Nathan, Callie and Taylor; Ellen Jeselnik and husband Burke of Kansas City, MO and children Katrina and Ryan; Lucinda Goudie and husband Steve of Topeka, KS and son Patrick Petry and his child Zachary Petry and daughter Amy Petry; sister Lois Foster many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.