Ruth Kuhl

KUHL
Ruth Kuhl passed away November 4, 2009 on a beautiful sunny morning at her home in Wimberley surrounded by family. Ruth was born in the spring of 1923 to Margaret and Harold Amidon in Batavia, New York. Ruth was predeceased by her brother Edward (Catherine) of Leroy, NY and is survived by her loving husband of 66 years Ivan Walter Kuhl, her sister Jane (Bernard) O'Donnell of Silver Creek, NY, her four daughters: Anita (Scott) Zinnecker, Mary Kay (Brad) Keeton, Martha Kuhl and Corien Kuhl, her five sons: Peter (Janice), Paul (Sarah), David (Joan), Walter (Valerie) and John (Sherri) Kuhl. In addition, Ruth is survived by 21 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Ruth was raised in a humble home in upstate New York during the Great Depression. Her father was a horseman and mechanic; her mother was a pioneer telephone operator and homemaker. Growing up, and through every phase of her life, Ruth demonstrated a keen intellect and an appreciation for the arts. She was valedictorian of her class at Batavia High School and was the first of her family to attend college. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Business from William Smith College in Geneva, NY where she played cello and sang opera. In 1943 after college graduation, Ruth married a Hobart (William Smith's sister college) man from Batavia, Ivan Kuhl, who was enlisted in the Army and attending Medical School at the University of Buffalo. After medical school, Ivan was in the Public Health Service for two and a half years, rejoined the Army and served as a Medical Officer in Japan and Korea. Like many war brides, Ruth cared for their first three children on her own in Batavia during Ivan's tenure in the Far East Command. Over the next decade, dermatology residency and military assignments sent Ruth, Ivan and their growing family back and forth across the country. Stops included Buffalo, Staten Island, West "by God" Virginia, Buffalo (again), Batavia, San Antonio, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and El Paso. During this time Ruth somehow managed to raise five children while moving on average every year and a half. In El Paso, Ruth and Ivan decided to leave the military life behind. In 1954, Ruth and Ivan moved their growing tribe to the tip of Texas in McAllen where Ivan was one of two dermatologists south of Corpus Christi. Over the next nine years, Ruth had four more children. The family rooted and became a vibrant part of the semi-tropical, bicultural landscape for more than 40 years. Ruth had a rich network of friends and activities (Slipper Club, the Junior League, Bridge Club, American Field Service, etc.), but her life centered on her family and church. Ruth was a faithful member of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church where she served in the Altar Society and participated in many bible study groups. With up to nine children in tow, she always arrived at 9:30am Sunday Mass in time to kneel for reflection and prayer before the service began. In 1996 Ruth had a near fatal viral heart infection and was given 2-3 years to live. She and Ivan moved to Wimberley to be closer to children and grandchildren. Once again life centered on family and church; St Mary's Catholic Church in Wimberley. She and Ivan enjoyed numerous grandchildren's sporting events, baptisms, weddings, graduations and theatrical performances and hosted many family gatherings at their home in Wimberley. Ruth's heart stabilized enough to allow trips to London, Ireland and a month long road trip across New England and Canada. Multiple trips were also made to upstate New York for family and college reunions over the last decade. As Ruth said the evening before she passed away, "It has been a good ride." This past September Ruth and Ivan celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary. Ruth was a true matriarch in every sense of the word and it was only fitting that her life came to an end because her heart had grown too large. an unfortunate consequence of the 1996 heart infection. Ruth was a brilliant, practical and loving Wife, Mother and Grandmother who, despite a ladylike disposition, never let any person or thing control her life. To the very end, she made every decision regarding her destiny and departed this life with her head held high and graced by God. Ruth even brought humor to the end of life conversation with the cardiologist. After a long and emotional conversation, during which she decided against all resuscitation measures, the cardiologist leaned forward and said, "Mrs. Kuhl, is there anything else you would like to ask me?" To which she responded by waving him off with the back of her hand and said, "No you can just run along now." The family extends special thanks to the talented and caring cardiologists at Austin Heart. Without their excellent care we would have lost Ruth long ago. We are also grateful for the loving care provided by the staff at Seton Hospital this past week and to Dr. Mary Kay Eckert, palliative care physician, and to Hospice Austin who helped us bring Ruth home for her last days. We would also like to thank Ruth and Ivan's dear friend, Father Pedro Garcia-Ramirez, who came to Wimberley last Friday to visit and administer the Sacrament of the Sick. To the end, her home was full of loving family, friends and the smell of wonderful, sustaining meals. These were the things most dear to Ruth. A recitation of the rosary will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Wimberley, Texas at 4pm on Sunday November 8, 2009. A funeral mass will be held at 11am the following day (Monday November 9, 2009) at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Wimberley as well. A reception will follow at the parish hall. In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice.
thomason funeral home
wimberly, tx