Ruth Barth

Ruth Barth had learned early on in life that material possessions matter little and that family comes first. She was caring, hard working and a good listener who uplifted those who came to her with words of encouragement and wisdom. Ruth was a woman who took great pride in her children and grandchildren and the successes in their lives are a great testimony to her parenting. She was lovingly known as “Grandma Beasley” or simply “Beas” by her family and friends.

The year 1919 was a triumphant year for the United States. As the Allies and Germany signed the Treaty of Versailles, the world moved closer to terminating World War I. Although the U.S. celebrated the end of the war, no champagne corks were popped due to the adoption of the 18th Amendment prohibiting alcohol. Though there was certainly a lot of excitement in that year, for Anthony and Jennie (VanderVeen) VanderWeele of Kalamazoo, Michigan, the biggest news of the year was the birth of their daughter, Ruth, on November 14th.

When Ruth was very young, her life forever changed when her mother had an accidental fall and as a result was unable to care for her family. Ruth and her sister June were sent to live with their Grandma VanderWeele while their maternal grandparents, the VanderVeen’s, raised her two brothers, Bob and Tony. Despite this tragedy, Ruth grew to foster a close loving relationship with her grandmother and as her grandmother aged, Ruth devotedly cared for her as she had when she was a young girl. Ruth grew up with an appreciation for hard work and at a young age picked celery in fields on North Westnedge Avenue in Kalamazoo and later after her grandmother died, she went to live and help out on her father’s chicken farm.

Ruth received her formal education in the area schools and after graduating, attended the Parson Business School. She then took a job in the payroll department at the former KVP Sutherland Paper Company where she remained a dedicated employee for almost 30 years. A few years before retiring in 1984, she was head of the benefits department for James River Corporation

In her middle 20s, Ruth went with a group of her girlfriends to a dance for the soldiers stationed at Fort Custer in Battle Creek. It was here that she met a handsome Army MP from Minnesota named Jim Barth. After a brief courtship, they were married in 1944, and had five wonderful children: Joanie, Jean, Terry, Ann and Marti. It was important to Ruth that she always had time to be with her children and taught them by setting good examples. In order to devote herself to the role of a mother, she ended her bowling league membership, which she felt took her away from her family. Although Ruth was not of the Catholic faith, Jim was, and all their children attended Catholic schools. This was not an easy endeavor for a single mother, but with her hard work and determination, she made it possible. Her unconditional love and selflessness reverberates through the hearts of her children to this day. In later years, Ruth became a grandmother, and what a loving grandmother she was. Being retired, she had plenty of time to spend with her 12 grandchildren and her great grandchildren. There were always giggles and laughter in the air from Grandma Ruth’s unforgettable sense of humor yet they knew they could confide in her and count on her great understanding.

Ruth’s life was filled with the wonderful simple things of life like having a cup of coffee and reading the newspaper after dinner every night and watching her favorite soap operas, the Bold and the Beautiful and the Young and the Restless. She was quite knowledgeable about politics and world events and kept up on these things by reading newspapers or watching the news, particularly CNN. After retiring, Ruth took some time to travel, continuing her trips to Washington to visit her daughter and her family as well as going on a couple of cruises with her sister and her husband. In 1997, she came to live with her daughter Joanie and her husband Steve in Portage, who made her feel safe and welcomed in their home. From her bedroom window, Ruth could admire the view over the lake and watch the birds that made their home nearby. Of all the wonderful things in Ruth’s life, being surrounded by the love of her family made her the happiest. Throughout her life, she considered her family to be her greatest gift and blessing.

Ruth Barth of Kalamazoo died on Sunday, October 17, 2004, in Borgess Nursing Home. She was preceded in death by her parents, Anthony and Jennie VanderWeele, son, Terry Barth, and daughter, Ann Bowers. Ruth’s family includes her children: Marti (Tom) Wydick of Richland, Joanie (Steve) Nuss of Portage, Jean (Mike) Perkowski of Bellingham, WA; 12 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren; sister, June Lockwood of Hayward, CA; and brothers: Bob VanderWeele of Barnes and Tony VanderWeele of Kalamazoo.

To learn more about Ruth’s life, friends may visit with her family on Tuesday, October 19, from 6-8 p.m. at the Rupert, Durham, Marshall & Gren Life Story Funeral Home - Portage where a service to celebrate her life will take place on Wednesday, October 20, at 10:30 a.m. Ruth will be buried in Mt. Ever-Rest Cemetery. Please visit Ruth’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory, order flowers or make a memorial contribution to the March of Dimes or the American Cancer Society in her memory.

Although Ruth Barth will be deeply missed, her legacy of love and dedication leaves her loved ones with cherished memories and a strong foundation to look to for comfort.