Ruth M. Wacker – A Role Model for Women Today

Beloved wife, sister, mother, grandmother and friend, Ruth passed away Monday, January 2nd with family at her side.

Ruth was welcomed into the world on March 14th, 1921 in Greenwich, Ohio by her parents, Blanche Faille and Clarence Reed. One of five children, Ruth grew up on her family’s farm where she played with her dog, King, and drove her favorite team of horses.

Ruth graduated from Greenwich High School in 1939 where she met and fell in love with her husband of 68 years, Wade Wacker, and went on to graduate from the Oberlin School of Business. After their marriage on June 21st, 1941, Ruth put her degree to good use in various cities across the country always near Wade’s naval assignments. She was the epitome of today’s modern woman during a very different time. After the war Ruth and Wade began their family life settling in Elyria and eventually moving to their lifetime home in Ashland. It was here that she established deep roots for her family, providing a loving, nurturing environment for her children and grandchildren. Ruth was the very definition of a “good neighbor”.

She turned to her business background later in life as Wade’s Administrative Assistant at Wade Machinery Sales and East Side Machine and Welding. Her management skills were also evident in her ability to run a household and raise four children while Wade traveled extensively for his work. Ruth’s unwavering faith in God, along with her deep interest and respect of all living things was reflected in her garden, her parenting, and her friendships. These friendships in turn, continued to nurture her until the very end of her life.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Wade, son Gregory, brothers Don and Art, and sisters Bessie and Edna.

Ruth is survived by her son Kirk (Jill), Wacker of Columbia, Missouri, daughters, Lynn (Robert) Staley of Huron; Deb (Roger) Bickhart of Loudonville; and Gwen (Ken) Simmons of University Heights. Ruth’s grandchildren include; Joshua (Autumn) Deily of Columbus; Christine (Ryan) Thompson of Loudonville; Nathaniel Bickhart of Canton; Allison (Christopher) Gilbert of Champaigne, Illinois; Colt, Shane and Jarrett Wacker of Columbia, Missouri.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 6th, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dan Bilkert officiating. Burial will be at 2:00 p.m. Friday afternoon at the Brookdale Cemetery in Elyria, Ohio. Friends may call on Thursday, January 5th, 2012 from 6-8 p.m. at the Denbow-Primm-Kemery Funeral Home.

The family requests that donations be made to the First United Methodist Church Feast Night Ministry, 220 Sandusky St. Ashland, Ohio 44805. Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.dpkfh.com.

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