Margery Ruth Welp

Margery Ruth Welp, of Flagstaff, Arizona, passed away from natural causes on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 12, 2024.
Ruth Welp was born at University Hospital on January 6, 1936 in Iowa City, Iowa to Edward Lloyd Woolley and Margery (Warner) Woolley. Ruth's family moved to various locations including Rock Island, Illinois, Panama City, Panama, and Meadville, Pennsylvania, where she graduated from high school. She attended the University of Iowa from 1953-1954. On November 27, 1954 at St. Mary's Church in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Ruth and James Francis (Jim) Welp began their marriage of 67 years.
In 1961, the Welp family moved to Bancroft, Iowa where they raised their 5 children and lived for the next 29 years.
From 1968-1987, Ruth taught piano lessons to students learning everything from beginner basics to collegiate level pieces. She frequently hosted piano recitals in order for her students to experience playing in front of an audience. She was a member of the Iowa Music Teachers Association (IMTA), and occasionally judged regional piano contests.
Ruth had a life-long love of animals - especially her animal companions. This began with her most beloved childhood dog, Joey, later followed by Sam, Velvet, Huckleberry, and Bearsie. Starting with her first teenage job of riding the neighbor's horses several times a week, her ongoing passion for horses continued with her own favorites: Thunder, Prince, and Baby Surprise. She often enjoyed identifying the wildlife at the Union Slough just outside Bancroft. Once, she took her family on a 5 hour drive to see a sky full of Canada Geese migrating through southwest Iowa. Volunteering as a docent at the Prescott Zoo was a highlight as well.
She shared many family adventures such as camping and cooking all meals for the family over an open fire, sightseeing internationally, or speeding up to Minneapolis to see a Shakespeare play. As an accomplished seamstress, Ruth sewed costumes, lots of '70's pantsuits, and anything resembling what Jackie O. might have worn. She mastered recipes for southern Italian-style lasagne and proper English plum pudding. Most of all, Ruth got the biggest charge out of trying to figure out someone's secret recipes.
After Jim retired in 1987, Ruth and Jim traveled around the country in an RV visiting family and friends. They settled in Prescott, AZ in 1990 where she took up oil painting. In 2021, they moved to Flagstaff to be closer to their oldest daughter, Lori, and her family.
Ruth is survived by 4 children, 11 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren:
- Lorraine Ruth (Welp) Kruse m. to Dennis Kruse of Flagstaff, AZ; daughter Audrey Lee Kruse m. to Jason Wahl Kruse with daughter Iris Lee Kruse of Flagstaff, AZ; son Alexander James Kruse m. to Hannah Liston Kruse with sons Monte Strider Kruse and Tucker Bon Kruse of Torquay, Australia.
- Linda Diane (Welp) Baker m. to John Mitchell Baker of Chicago, IL; daughter Catherine Ann (Baker) Orleans m. to Alex Orleans, of Leesburg, VA; son Gregory John Baker m. to Rebecca Neuman Baker of Chicago, IL.
- James Edward Welp m. to Linda (Ontko) Welp; son Zachary James Welp m. to Nina (Vrbancic) Welp with daughter Eloise Grace Welp; son Gabriel Adam Welp; of Cincinnati, OH.
- Jeanette (Welp, Asa) Jones married to Steven Austin Jones; her children, Imogene Samira Asa, and Samuel Austin Asa; of Chicago, IL.
- Cindy (Dickman) Welp m. to Steven James Welp (dec.) and their children, Trevor James Welp, Madalyn JoAnn Welp, and Tyler Lee Welp; of Sioux City, IA.
- Also surviving are Ruth's sister; Janet (Woolley) Banerjee of Murphysboro, IL, and Ruth's sister-in-law, Sandra (Miller) Woolley of Pittsburgh, PA.
Ruth is preceded in death by her husband James F. Welp (1936-2022); son Steven J. Welp (1968-2011); father Edward L. Woolley (1910-1973); mother Margery (Warner) Woolley (1907-1999); and brother Frank E. Woolley (1941-2020).
Ruth Welp's life will be honored at a Memorial Celebration to be held via Zoom on Saturday, July 27, 2024 at 11:00 am CDT. Her ashes will be dispersed in various nature locations where she enjoyed watching birds and imagined flying with them. Memorial donations in Ruth Welp's name may be made to: Compassus Living Foundation at www.compassuslivingfoundation.org. If you'd like to participate in the Zoom call, please email jnett828@gmail.com.
Rest in Peace, Sister, Mother, Grandma, Great-Grandma. Of course heaven has dogs!