Ruth M. Fritz

Some people go through life chasing their goals, wants, or ambitions, never finding true happiness or satisfaction. Ruth Fritz was a woman who found so much happiness and contentment in all that she did, and in all that she loved. She was a devoted wife, doting mother and grandmother, and a faithful servant of the Lord. Most of all, she was a light in the life of all who knew her.

Ruth's story began in the little town of Vicksburg, Michigan in 1918, a time of such turmoil in this country and the world. America and the world approached the climactic end to the Great War, World War I, which had proven so costly to so many. Woodrow Wilson had been elected President, leading a country that was so anxious to see better days. Here in this corner of the world, Bert & Cora (Cross) Knauss were preparing for better days, as well, with the birth of a beautiful baby girl, a daughter they named Ruth.

Ruth was the second of six children in the Knauss home, which resided on a potato farm on Silver Street in Vicksburg. Ruth's father was a hardworking man, who in addition to farming his crops, also hauled ice for the small town, too. Like all her siblings, Ruth was counted on to help around the farm as a child, but she also found plenty of time for mischief, as well. She once upset her brother Ralph to the point he chased her down, and dumped her in the horse tank to teach her a lesson! Ruth was very close to her siblings, though, and they'd often catch frogs to use as bait to go "fishing" for snakes in the neighborhood gardens, in their mission to rid the town of the slithery serpents!

Ruth attended a little one-room schoolhouse in Vicksburg, and went through the eighth grade. She then had to leave school to help out around the home, and care for her ailing mother. That was Ruth, though, even as a young girl, she always did what she could to help her family.

When Ruth was just 16, she met a young man named Donald Fritz at a church prayer meeting. For Ruth, meeting Donald was indeed the answer to her prayers, and she and the handsome young man quickly fell in love. The young couple was married just a year later, on August 11, 1935, beginning a wonderful marriage, and a wonderful life together, full of love, faith and family.

The newlyweds remained in their hometown of Vicksburg, where Donald had a farm, complete with crops and animals, in addition to a job as a machinist for the Dover Company. Ruth settled in to her role has homemaker beautifully, and also helped out around the farm, caring for the animals and even working in the hay fields during harvest time. Indeed, Ruth put her heart and soul into caring for their home, and eventually, their family. Ruth and Donald were blessed with five girls in the coming years. Sadly, however, their daughter Doneta died of strep throat when she was just four months old, during those days without antibiotics.

Ruth was an amazing wife and mother, and truly a magician in the kitchen. She was an excellent cook, and had a passion for baking, filling the home with the smell of her wonderful creations. She was best known for her homemade bread, which was truly a special treat. Her girls would sometimes trade their sandwiches with their school classmates' lunches, whose mothers all bought plain bread from the store and coveted Ruth's bread.

Ruth's talents extended outside the kitchen, however. She was also an excellent seamstress, and made so many clothes for everyone in the family. She could also crochet beautiful Afghans and intricate doilies, and also made beautiful Christmas ornaments, as well, with cats and ducks her usual theme. As she got older she did less crafting, making her previous creations all the more treasured.

Ruth enjoyed traveling very much, as well, and took several vacations over the years with her kids and with good friends. Branson, Missouri, Wisconsin, Tennessee and North Carolina were particularly special trips for her and her family.

Of course, any time was special when she was with her beloved family. Ruth was such a caring grandmother, who simply adored her grandkids. She loved spending time with each of them, and especially teaching them to fish. Ruth loved fishing, and the grandkids loved to spend time with her on the St. Joseph River or Portage Creek, whiling away the summer afternoons with Grandma.

Ruth was also a "treasure hunter," who enjoyed bargain hunting at garage sales, where she'd always find treasures for herself or a family member. She'd always come home with a trinket for herself, or a bag of clothes for one of her daughters, always thinking of her family.

As deeply as Ruth loved her family, she was also a woman of such deep love and faith in the Lord, a true Christian woman in word and deed. Just as she and her beloved Donald met all those years ago at a church prayer group, their faith formed the basis of their marriage, and together they attended services faithfully. They attended several different churches over the years, with their most recent church home at the Crossroads Missionary Church. Faith was so important to both of them, and they loved their church for their faith and the fellowship it brought them. They both also enjoyed the traditional church music and hymns.

Ruth was always such a pleasant, friendly person, who enjoyed meeting new people, who were instantly drawn to her vivacious personality and the goodness she radiated.

Sadly, Ruth's beloved Donald died in 1997, which was understandably hard for her. She persevered, though, through her family's love and her faith in the Lord, knowing she would see him again someday. Ruth died Friday, November 10, 2006, at Three Rivers Health, reuniting with her beloved husband.

Ruth was a wonderful woman, such a friendly, caring and vivacious lady. She was a devoted wife, loving mother and grandmother, and a faithful servant of the Lord. She lived a long and full life, a life filled with family and faith, and so many blessings along the way. We were so blessed to have known her. She will be greatly missed.

Learn more about Ruth, view her life story film and visit with her family and friends Monday from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, RDMG, Vicksburg, 409 S. Main St. where a funeral service will be held Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Donald Fritz in 1997, her infant daughter Doneta Fritz and daughter Mary Joan Walker in 2004, a granddaughter Baby Moe, her brothers Ralph Knauss, Lawrence Knauss, Laverne Knauss and her sisters Mildred Hallock and Bernice Harrison. Members of her family include her children Marilyn & Verlyn Borton of Vicksburg & Three Rivers, Shirley & John Moe of Vicksburg, Carol Buyce of Portage, her grandchildren Rodney & Debra Borton, Jody & John Nappier, Jerry & Julie Walker, Tamarah & Steve Roth, Donald & Kathy Buyce, Dina Waggoner, Melonie & Michael Stewart, her great-grandchildren Jeremy, Kristin, Austin, Justin, Courtney, Brandon, Brittany, Josh, Ashley, Cody, David, Hannah, Justin and Kylie and many nieces and nephews. Please visit Ruth's memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can read her life story, archive a favorite memory, order flowers or make a memorial donation to the American Heart Association.