Ruth Watkins

Clarinda, Iowa

Oct. 16, 1922-Feb. 28, 2017

A Celebration Of Life memorial open house for Ruth Watkins will be held 2-4 p.m., Saturday, June 24 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Clarinda. Memorials preferred to: Nodaway Valley Historical Museum for maintenance of the Goldenrod School, or Iowa Public Television.

Ruth (Shambaugh) Watkins, age 94, passed away peacefully February 28, following a brief illness. Artist, wife, mother of seven, and dear friend to many, Ruth looked for the "better angels" in us all and lived her life with kindness, grace, and an irrepressible sense of humor.

She was born Oct. 16, 1922 to Ira W. and Jessie (Field) Shambaugh. Ruth was always proud of the fact that during her mother's tenure as Page County Superintendent of Schools, Jessie founded 3-H Clubs which evolved into the 4-H organization. Affectionately known as "Dazee" by her friends, Ruth loved growing up in Clarinda and referred to her small town childhood as a storybook experience.

In 1940, she graduated from Clarinda High School and attended Christian College in Columbia, Missouri., before transferring to the University of Iowa where she received a BA in Fine Art, an MA in Journalism, and met her husband, Robert Watkins. Ruth and Bob were married on June 2, 1946, in a garden wedding at the Shambaugh family home, then headed west to begin an odyssey that would span 64 years, and include the births of seven children, and homes in Los Angeles, New York City, Greenwich, Connecticut, and San Francisco, before coming full-circle in the late 1960's to settle permanently on Pinhook Farm in southwest Iowa.

After returning to her hometown, she supported the Clarinda community through involvement in Westminster Presbyterian Church, Clarinda Garden Club, PEO, and mentoring young art students.

A gifted writer and artist, her gentle manner belied a fiercely intelligent mind, quick wit, and unique way of viewing the world. These qualities were apparent in the cartoon strip she wrote and illustrated during the 1950's for Ladies Home Journal called Be Sure To Bring The Children. While raising the ever-growing brood that inspired her cartoons, she managed to develop a successful career as a portrait artist, specializing in pastels of children and creating commissioned pieces for families throughout the United States and England.

Ruth will be remembered for her creative spirit, quiet faith, ever-present Rolleiflex camera, love of the beauty found in nature be it a magnificent sunset or a single buttercup blooming on the shoulder of a gravel road, and never missing an opportunity to tap dance in the kitchen.

Preceded in death by her husband, Robert E. Watkins; daughter Jennifer Wren Watkins; brother William Shambaugh.

Survived by her children Wendy Watkins, Heidi (Don) Hess, Piper (David) Hobbs, Jed (Christine) Watkins, Heather (Jim) Zenk, and Seth (Christy) Watkins. Grandchildren Jordana Del Feld, Samantha Weiland, Kaitlin (Chance) McLemore; Kristen Hess, Amy and Scott Lovett, Hannah, Molly, James, and Heidi Watkins; Mackenzie and Shane Zenk; Spencer and Tatum Watkins. Great-grandchild Aviv Zukerman.