Person:Ruth Turpening (1)

Published: May 18, 2005 PUTMAN Ruth S.

Ruth S. Putman passed from this life into glory on Monday, May 16, 2005, at the age of 99 1/2. Born at home on November 2, 1905, to Elmer C. and Delilah (Warren) Turpening, she was the 7th child in a family of eight children surviving. Ruth grew up on her father's farm east of Delta on CO Rd. EF, where the Turpening name is still proudly displayed on the barn. Her parents were devout Christians, and her childhood memories were filled with the remembrance of them singing hymns as they went about feeding the chickens, milking the cows and other daily chores. Ruth herself accepted Christ as her personal Savior as a young teenager and strove ever after to give of her best to the Master. As a young woman, Ruth gave piano lessons to area children, some not much younger than she. She graduated from Delta High School in 1923. On November 26, 1924, Ruth married Harry L. Putman, her sweetheart whom she met on a blind date. They had almost 63 years together before Harry went to be with his Lord. During the early years, Ruth worked downtown Toledo at Tiedke's as a cashier - back when that position involved pneumatic tubes to the basement, as no cash was kept on the sales floor. Soon after, she was put in charge of their lay-a-way department - the first in Toledo. Other jobs came later, including the Box Factory in Delta and the Ev-R-Lasting Label Company. All the while, Ruth maintained a warm, clean home for her husband and managed to raise chickens, a large vegetable garden, and masses of flowers in beds and borders that bloomed from April through September. This was back in the days when you made your own catsup, strawberry jam was made in a huge cauldron boiling on the stove, and summer vegetables were "put up" for the coming winter. Ruth also raised two foster sons before she had a child of their own, a daughter they named Diana Lee. A second child, Alan, died in infancy. Ruth was active at Fulton Union Church in the Ladies Aid, assisting with vacation Bible School, and playing the piano and organ for a total of 43 years before she retired. Her family was her joy. Although she and Harry took annual vacations to places throughout the United States, she was always glad to get back home to NW OH and her family. Ruth's life spanned times of plenty and the Great Depression, but through all of life's trials she held fast to the promise in Romans 8:28 that God works all things for good to those who love Him. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Harry L. Putman, son Alan B., granddaughter, Christina D. Burkey, and foster sons, Harold and Bill Taylor. She is survived by her daughter, Diana Burkey (Quentin); granddaughters Vickie Finn and Cynthia Irmen (James); great-grandchildren, Chad and Rachel Finn, and Maria, Jared, and Adam, and one great-great-grandson, Michael Q. Hitts. Visitation will begin Wednesday, May 18th from 2-5 and 7-9 p.m. at the Weigel Funeral Home, 204 Chestnut St. in Swanton, (419-826-2631). Funeral services will be Thursday afternoon, May 19th at 2:00 p.m. at Fulton Union Christian Church, Co. Rd. HJ between Co. Rd. 5 and 5-2 in Delta. Pastor Alan Weese will officiate. Interment will follow at Fulton Union Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Fulton Union Christian Church.

added by Jon Jay Shultz, May 18, 2005.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Ohio, United States. Ohio, Death Index, 1908-1932, 1938-1944, 1958-2007.