Ruth Clementina ZIRKLE

Ruth Koehler 1920-2013 October 31, 2013 Warren Tribune Chronicle: CHAMPION - Ruth Koehler, 92, went home to be with her Lord Monday afternoon on Monday, Oct. 28, 2013, surrounded by her family at Gillette Nursing Home. Ruth was born on Dec. 17, 1920, in Hall, W.Va. She was one of 10 siblings born to Andrew Brennis and Etta Ouida Zickefoose Zirkle. She grew up in Meadville, Pa., and married the love of her life, John A. Koehler, on April 30, 1940. In 1942, they moved to Vallejo, Calif. In 1945, they returned and made their home in Champion. They had three children, John Arthur, born and deceased in April of 1942, Etta Mae (Roger) Little of Bazetta and Debi (Jeff) Allen of Warren. Ruth's husband died in 1971. She also had five grandchildren, Kim (Ed) Ausby of Virginia Beach, Va., Amanda (Brent) Currington of Champion, Michelle Burnfield of Champion, Amy (Don) Shipman of Warren and Gary Zadai of Champion. Ruth also had 14 great-grandchildren. Ruth was a devout Christian all of her life, attending Champion Christian Church for 20 years and then the Warren First Church of the Nazarene for 20 years. She loved attending different ladies guilds, adult Bible classes, her Sunday school class at the Nazarene Church and serving on different prayer chains. She loved gardening and was passionate about ballroom dancing until her late 70s. She moved into Gillette Nursing Home in 2009 and enjoyed bingo, crafts, activities and the different musical performances there. Ruth worked as a cook for Champion Elementary school from 1959 to 1966 and then helped open and manage Country Classics, which later became Julie's Fashions until they closed. She is survived by three sisters, Margaret Koehler, Bernice Kirkwood and Virginia McGill of Meadeville, Pa. Besides her husband and son, she also was preceded in death by her brothers, Arthur, Dowden, Dorman, Howard, and Robert Zirkle; and a sister, Elva Thompson, all of Meadeville. Family and friends are kindly invited to visit from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday and for 30 minutes prior to the funeral services for Ruth, which will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Carl W. Hall Funeral Home. Ruth will be laid to rest in Champion Township Cemetery. She will always be remembered by her friends and family for her unwavering faith, prayerful advice, loving encouragement and her gentle and kind spirit.

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