Ruth V. Adams

Ruth V. Adams, the daughter of Arthur E. and Mary (Arbs) Adams, was born Dec. 17, 1913, in rural Kellogg. She graduated from the Newton Senior High School with the class of 1931, then went on to attend Drake and the University of Northern Iowa. Ruth taught rural schools for 22 years and worked for Jasper County Human Services for 18 years. She was a longtime member of the United Presbyterian Church, the Christianson Circle and the Newton Woman’s Club.

Ruth died Monday, June 20, 2016, at Park Centre Health Care in Newton. She was 102 years, six months and two days of age. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; and her brother, Robert L. Adams and his wife, Catherine Zigeler Adams. Also Adams aunts Anna (Atwood), Ida (Hill), Carrie (Arbs), and Grace Adams, uncle Frank, plus many cousins.

Those left to honor Ruth’s memory include her second cousins, Marilyn (John) Berthelsen, J. Morris (Judy) Auten of Schaumburg, Ill., Trudy (Jim) Verwers of Newton, Shirley (George) Osborn of Newton, Ellen (Bob) Greeley of Eureka, Ill., Jack (Jean) Gove of Peoria, Ill., Harriet (Phares) O’Daffer of Bloomington, Ill., Helen (Chuck) Routier of Grinnell, Harriett (Tom) Rogers of Santa Barbara, Calif., and Helen (Don) Gugeler of Arroya Grande, Calif.; and a niece, Susan (Joe) Panko of Concord, N.C. Marilyn’s mother and father, Grace and Jay Auten, became Ruth’s guardians when Ruth was 17 and her father had died. She remained in their home for 14 years.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16 at the Pence-Reese Funeral Home. The family will greet friends following the committal service at the Pence-Reese Tribute Center. Memorials may be designated to the United Presbyterian Church or the Park Centre Hospice and may be left at the Pence-Reese Funeral Home in Newton.