Ruth Belle Court Ryan

Ruth Belle Court Ryan, 91, of Cedar Falls, died Monday, April 30, 2012, at the Western Home Communities Elizabeth Martin Health Center in Cedar Falls. Ruth was born June 7, 1920, in Marion, Iowa, the daughter of Dewey and Eva (Bell) Court. She married James E. Ryan on September 3, 1939 at the Little Brown Church near Nashua, Iowa. He preceded her in death on January 27, 2001. Ruth was a graduate of Clarion High School and attended Iowa State University. She was past president of the Cedar Falls AMVETS Auxiliary and was a volunteer at the Sartori Hospital Gift Shop. Ruth was known for her seamstress expertise, her musical abilities, and was an expert bridge and card player. She volunteered in the community, particularly with the Sartori Hospital Auxiliary. Ruth loved gardening and flower arranging, spending time with her family and was proud of her children and their spouses, her grandchildren and their families, and her precious great-granddaughter. Survivors include two sons, Thomas D. (Joyce) Ryan of Whitewater, Wisconsin, and Steven J. (Melanie) Ryan of Delavan, Wisconsin; a daughter, Jane E. Ryan-Sandford (Clark), of Seattle, Washington; four grandchildren, Josh (Hong) Ryan, Jamie Ryan, Maggie (Logan) Sandford-O'Neill and Charlie Sandford; a step-sister, Sandra Larick, of Clarion, Iowa, and a great-granddaughter, Fiona Ryan. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and a sister, Betty Court Johnson. Services will be 3:00 p.m. Sunday, May 6, 2012, at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home, with burial at Cedar Valley Memorial Gardens, both in Cedar Falls. Visitation will be one hour prior to service time. Memorials may be directed to Sartori Hospital Auxiliary.