Ruth Soldner Hartzler died Friday, Sept. 19, 2014, at the Hilty Memorial Home, Pandora.
She was born May 11, 1922, in Berne, Indiana, to Dr. T. H. and Meta (Neuenschwander) Soldner. She on March 2, 1946 married Ellwyn Hartzler, who died Oct. 20, 2000.
Survivors include five children, Tim (Marybeth) of Bluffton, OH; Jan (Lonnie) Buerge of Kansas City, Mo.; Judy Hartzler of Columbus; Sandi (Jim) Hostetler of Goshen, Ind.; and Alan (Staci) of Pettisville; 11 grandchildren; and t10 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a brother who died in infancy and a sister, Vera Grimm, who died last year.
Ruth graduated from high school in Berne. She attended Bluffton College and Bethel Deaconess School of Nursing, Kansas where she received her RN degree.
Ruth, with her husband, served under Mennonite Central Committee in Puerto Rico as an instructor and a supervisor of nurse aides. She also worked as nurse in Chicago and at the Bluffton Community Hospital. After retirement, Ruth and her husband spent 14 years in voluntary service around the country as well as weaving many rugs and placemats with recycled fabrics. She also volunteered at the Et Cetera Shop in Bluffton.
She was a member of the Grace Mennonite Church, Pandora, where she served in many capacities, including Christian Education and Women in Mission.
A memorial service will be held 11 am Oct. 11, at Grace Mennonite Church, Pandora.
Burial of the cremated remains will be in Mennonite Reformed Evangelical Cemetery, Berne, Ind. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.
Memorials may be made to Grace Mennonite Church, Mennonite Central Committee, or Hilty Memorial Home. Online condolences may be expressed at chiles-lamanfh.com.
