Ruth Calkins

1929 - 2021

RUTH CALKINS

Indianola - Ruth Thatcher Calkins, formerly of Albuquerque, New Mexico, died on February 11, 2021 in Indianola, Iowa after a short illness. Ruth was born in 1929 in Wyoming as the youngest daughter of Gladys and George Thatcher. She fondly remembered her earliest years playing in the remnants of nearby Fort Laramie. When she was in fifth grade the family moved to Huntington, Utah, followed by their move to Albuquerque when Ruth was in seventh grade. The family settled on Rio Grande Blvd. where soon afterwards they started Thatcher's Dairy. Ruth graduated from Albuquerque High School in 1947. Afterwards she attended the University of New Mexico briefly before starting nursing school at the old Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque. While at UNM, she sang in a trio with Ralph Calkins (he was the baritone and she was the alto). The couple married on January 8, 1949. Shortly afterwards they moved to New Jersey where Ruth finished nursing school at Clara Maass Hospital in Belleville, NJ. Ruth was a surgical nurse until her three children were born. After 18 years in New Jersey, the family spent one year in Fairbanks, Alaska before moving to Hanover, Indiana. Ruth became the assistant manager of the Hanover College Bookstore for many years. Both Ralph and Ruth missed the Sandia Mountains throughout their working lives and were happy to move back to Albuquerque in 1991. They lived in the family home in Albuquerque's North Valley until 2014 when they moved to Indianola, Iowa to live with family. This was a homecoming of sorts, because Ruth's grandfather and great grandfather had been born in Indianola in the 19th century.

Ruth was particularly interested in education and was proud of Ralph's many years as an Academic Dean and a Professor of Economics at several colleges. When her three children all completed advanced degrees (Alison and Paul became physicians while Patricia became a professor), she proudly described herself as an "MD—Mother of Doctors." Ruth was also an unapologetic feminist and a keen follower of politics, strongly supporting liberal policies of the Democratic Party. She considered it a significant accomplishment that she convinced her campus administration to provide retirement benefits to part-time staff.

Ruth was preceded in death by Ralph, her husband of 68 years; her parents; and her two sisters, Theone Fife and Marjorie Arrowsmith. Surviving her are her children Alison, Paul (Liz), and Patricia (CoryAnne Harrigan). She is also survived by grandchildren Avery Calkins and Eli Calkins and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Feeding America or to a local food pantry. To sign an online condolence, visit our website at www.overtonfunerals.com.