Ruth Ann Kalbfleisch
February 8, 1933 – December 21, 2016
February 8, 1933 – December 21, 2016
Ruth Ann Kalbfleisch was born February 8, 1933 in New Bedford, Massachusetts, to Ruth and Norman Adams. She passed away on December 21, 2016, in Norman, Oklahoma. She graduated from Phineas Banning High School, Wilmington, California, in 1951. She received her Registered Nursing degree from The Methodist Hospital School of Nursing, Los Angeles, California, in 1954. On October 23, 1954, she married George Kalbfleisch in San Pedro, California. Highlights of her career included working as a school nurse in Rocky Point, NY, and as a Registered Nurse at the Veterans Center in Norman, Oklahoma.
Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought her joy in life. She loved spending time with them and encouraged their love of education, cooking, music and the performing arts. Ruth Ann loved to sew and knit, and created many items for her children and grandchildren. She also loved gardening and spending time outdoors, especially at the family property, ZehnOkres, in Norman, where she walked the trails regularly with her dogs. She enjoyed visiting with family near and far and loved seeing each of her grandchildren participate in their activities including band, dance, musicals and sporting events. While at home in Oklahoma, she enjoyed attending live performances at the Oklahoma City Civic Center and the University of Oklahoma. She was also an OU Fan.
She was preceded in death by her husband Dr. George Randolph Kalbfleisch, mother Ruth Loura, father Norman Adams, sister Thelma, and brother Carl. She is survived by her four children and their respective families: Karen Kalbfleisch and her husband, Richard Butler, and their daughters, Kathryn and Lauren Butler, of Roanoke, Virginia; George Kalbfleisch, Jr., and his wife, Andrea, his daughter, Jennifer Ambrose, and her daughters, Karina Ambrose and Kayleigh Browning, of Dry Ridge, Kentucky, and Andrea's daughter Noelle Winters of Brooklyn, New York; Julie Collins and her husband, David, of Norman, Oklahoma, and their son, David Collins, Jr., of Lake Mills, Wisconsin; and Carl Kalbfleisch and his wife, Mande, and their sons, Eric Kalbfleisch and Brendan Olsen, of Carrollton, Texas. Other family members include brother, Fritz Loura, and his wife, Jane, and their daughters, Paige and Elise Loura, of Seattle, Washington; brother-in-law, Herbert Kalbfleisch, and his partner Helga Rudolph of Nabburg, Germany; grandson, Bradley Rearden of Carrollton, Texas; and many friends across the country.
A celebration of her life will be held at University Lutheran Church, 914 Elm Avenue, Norman, Oklahoma 73072, on Sunday, February 19, 2017, at 2:00 PM. Visitation with the family will immediately follow the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be sent to The University of Oklahoma Foundation designated for the George Kalbfleisch Memorial Fund, 100 Timberdell Road, Norman, Oklahoma 73019. This fund was set up in Ruth Ann's husband's name at the time of his death. All funds raised contribute toward a scholarship for an outstanding physics graduate student, a cause that was important to Ruth Ann.
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