Ruth Blair

Ruth Blair, 98, of Iowa Falls, passed away Saturday, January 13, 2018 at Scenic Manor. Funeral services will be 11:00 am Thursday, January 18, 2018 at the Bethel Baptist Church in Iowa Falls. Burial will be at the Union Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:00 am until service time on Thursday at the church. Woodley Funeral Home, LLC of Iowa Falls is caring for Ruth and her family. Ruth was surrounded by family as she peacefully passed into the next phase of her life. We believe she is busy “strolling thru heaven” with our dad by her side. Ruth was born at home on a farm near Jewell, Iowa on November 23, 1919. She was the third of eleven children born to Charles and Hattie (Hildahl) Knox and the second of seven sisters. She graduated at the top of her class from Radcliffe High in 1937. She had prepared to become a teacher, however, in April of 1938 she married Gerald W. Blair and they spent the next 66 years together. They moved to Iowa Falls in 1942. In 1955 she began her work outside the home by joining the backroom staff at the Advertiser and later joining the backroom staff at the Times Citizen. She retired in 1987. Ruth had many loves in her life, including but not limited to: books and reading, the color purple (including her purple kitchen), horses, Santa Claus, poetry, Zane Grey, Arizona Magazine, and Ideals, clipping and archiving historical information, (including stuff on Iowa so the fifth graders could turn in great Iowa books), writing up family histories, music and dancing. She spent many an hour dancing with Gerald in their home and around the kitchen table. She really enjoyed foot stomping, hand clapping gospel music and attended many concerts. Her kringla’s were known family wide and we all enjoyed them whenever she baked! The next four generations are left to carry on her legacies. They include her children, Carolyn (Sherman) Bryant of Denison, Iowa, Virginia Price of Des Moines, Iowa, Gene “Duffy” (Simone) Blair of Iowa Falls, Iowa and Kathy (Patrick) Firman of Great Falls, Montana; daughter-in-law, Rachel Blair of Helena, Montana; fifteen grandchildren (and nine spouses), thirty one great-grandchildren (and nine spouses) and twenty four great-great grandchildren; forty nieces and nephews and their families; four sisters; three brothers-in-law; two sisters-in-law and special family friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband and a son, Major General Gary Blair. Ruth’s family would like to share a huge thanks to the staff at Scenic Manor, Care Initiatives Hospice, Pastor Steven Hill, Travis Woodley and the staff of Woodley Funeral Home.

Tributes

Ruth Blair

November 23, 1919 - January 13, 2018