1948
Ruth
2024
Ruth Ann James
July 29, 1948 — September 29, 2024
Ruth Ann James, beloved mother and grandmother passed away peacefully on September 29, 2024 at MercyOne Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. She was 76 years old.
Ruth was born in Savanna on July 29, 1948 to Harold and Virginia Grummitt. She graduated from Savanna High School with the class of 1966. It was in high school where she met the love of her life, Terry James. The two were married on April 20, 1968.
Ruth and Terry loved to dance and won quite a few contests. They went on to have two daughters, Jennifer and Theresa. Family time was mostly spent boating and camping on the Mississippi River, and pool tournaments to watch Terry.
Ruth was a long time member of the Lutheran Church where she enjoyed volunteering for the girls’ activities with the Lutheran Girl Pioneers. She also enjoyed making her famous chocolate chip cookies and apple pies for any of the potlucks and luncheons.
Ruth worked for 23 years as a beautician. First at her home salon called Ruth Ann’s Corner Cut and Curl and later at a downtown location called Reflections. Her daughters enjoyed spending time with her at her salon. They had even been caught running through there fighting a few times. After selling her business, she worked as a legal secretary for Kipp Meyers, where she retired.
Ruth had an amazing sense of humor and loved to laugh. She enjoyed spending time with her friends, her beloved nieces and nephews, and most of all her grandkids, Jack, Kate, and Eric.
In 2022, Ruth moved to Des Moines, Iowa to be close to her daughter, Jennifer.
She is survived by her daughters, Jennifer Gallagher (Jon Beschen) of Des Moines, Iowa and Theresa James of Morris, Illinois as well as her 3 grandchildren, Jack Gallagher, Kate Gallagher, and Eric Wicks. She was preceded in death by her husband, Terry James, her parents Harold and Virginia Grummit, her brother William (Bill) Grummitt and her sister Sandra Allen.
A visitation will be held at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Savanna, Illinois from 12-2PM on Saturday, October 19 with the service to follow. Inurnment will be held at the Savanna Township Cemetery.
A celebration of life will take place at Manny’s Pizza after the Inurnment. Memorial donations can be made to a local Make-A-Wish foundation.
Ruth was born in Savanna on July 29, 1948 to Harold and Virginia Grummitt. She graduated from Savanna High School with the class of 1966. It was in high school where she met the love of her life, Terry James. The two were married on April 20, 1968.
Ruth and Terry loved to dance and won quite a few contests. They went on to have two daughters, Jennifer and Theresa. Family time was mostly spent boating and camping on the Mississippi River, and pool tournaments to watch Terry.
Ruth was a long time member of the Lutheran Church where she enjoyed volunteering for the girls’ activities with the Lutheran Girl Pioneers. She also enjoyed making her famous chocolate chip cookies and apple pies for any of the potlucks and luncheons.
Ruth worked for 23 years as a beautician. First at her home salon called Ruth Ann’s Corner Cut and Curl and later at a downtown location called Reflections. Her daughters enjoyed spending time with her at her salon. They had even been caught running through there fighting a few times. After selling her business, she worked as a legal secretary for Kipp Meyers, where she retired.
Ruth had an amazing sense of humor and loved to laugh. She enjoyed spending time with her friends, her beloved nieces and nephews, and most of all her grandkids, Jack, Kate, and Eric.
In 2022, Ruth moved to Des Moines, Iowa to be close to her daughter, Jennifer.
She is survived by her daughters, Jennifer Gallagher (Jon Beschen) of Des Moines, Iowa and Theresa James of Morris, Illinois as well as her 3 grandchildren, Jack Gallagher, Kate Gallagher, and Eric Wicks. She was preceded in death by her husband, Terry James, her parents Harold and Virginia Grummit, her brother William (Bill) Grummitt and her sister Sandra Allen.
A visitation will be held at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Savanna, Illinois from 12-2PM on Saturday, October 19 with the service to follow. Inurnment will be held at the Savanna Township Cemetery.
A celebration of life will take place at Manny’s Pizza after the Inurnment. Memorial donations can be made to a local Make-A-Wish foundation.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ruth Ann James, please visit our flower store.
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