Ruthanne C. Looby

CHARLESTON, IL - Ruthanne Cooper Looby died Friday, December 1, 2017 at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center. 

Ruthanne was born July 3, 1924, in Redfield, Iowa, the daughter of Vernon O. and Ethelyn Bratton Cooper.  She married Arthur John Looby December 22, 1949, in Topeka, KS.  Her parents and husband preceded her in death.  Survivors include her son, John Cooper Looby, (Judy), Charleston, Illinois; daughter, Valerie Looby Allen, Charleston, Illinois; granddaughters, Natalie Allen Hill (Kyle), Carmel, Indiana; and Kimberly Anne Looby, Charlotte, North Carolina; grandson, Kevin Thomas Looby, Palo Alto, California; great-grandson, Spencer Allen Hill and soon to be born great-granddaughter, Carmel, Indiana.  She is also survived by a special niece, Kathlene Stapfer Shank, Mattoon, IL.

Ruthanne was a woman who accomplished much in her life. After graduating in 1942 from Brookfield High School in Brookfield, MO, she left the Midwest, ventured to Washington, D. C. and began her working life taking a position with the FBI as a clerk typist. After a year in Washington she took advantage of a government training program for nurses, completing the program in 1946 at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Miami, Florida.  Returning to the Midwest she began her nursing career and in 1948, she met her husband while serving as a nurse in Marion Hospital in St. Louis, MO. As she and her husband moved to further his education and career, she earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at Eastern Illinois University while continuing her career as a nurse.  Ruthanne believed strongly in higher education with her son and daughter both earning degrees from Eastern. She was supportive of her niece Kathlene as she pursued her doctorate.  She was very proud of each of her three grandchildren who have earned or continue to pursue advanced degrees.

Ruthanne began her nurse educator career as an instructor in the Mattoon Area Education nursing program which segued to Lake Land Community College, becoming the Lake Land practical nursing program in 1967. She was an administrator and teacher in this program from 1967-1985. Her Lake Land career roles included being the practical nursing coordinator, practical nursing administrator with clinical duties, and full-time instructor.  Professionally she was involved in accreditation work of the “National League of Nursing.”  She served many years as an examiner for the State of Illinois Nurse Examiner’s Board.  She was a mentor and lifelong advocate of the profession of nursing.  Ruthanne’s career life circle as a nurse is being carried on by her granddaughter Natalie, who is a practicing nurse and is currently pursuing an advanced degree in nursing.

Upon retirement in 1985 Ruthanne became very involved in volunteer activities; including RSVP, Circuit Breakers, and SHIP.  She was recognized by RSVP and SHIP with awards for her volunteer activities. She enjoyed her bridge groups and taking numerous trips to varied places, never tiring of seeking new experiences.  At the age of 80 she became bored with retirement, first taking a job with the national census, then taking a position with Research Triangle Institute conducting Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco surveys used in research of use and abuse of these substances.  At the age of 89 she reluctantly retired again simply saying “it was time.”

Ruthanne had a passion for animals, particularly cats, as reflected in her donation to the St. Louis Zoo to help support the zoo’s “Cat Country.”  She also had a long-standing interest in genealogy.   Donations may be made in her memory to the Coles County Humane Society in care of Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Dr., Charleston, IL 61920.

There will be a memorial reception on Thursday, December 28, from 1:00-3:00, at the Charleston Carnegie Public Library, 712 Sixth St., Charleston, IL.