Ruth Howard

September 8, 1930 - July 10, 2015

Ruth Elizabeth Howard, 84, of West Grove, Iowa passed away July 10, 2015 at the Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. She was born September 8, 1930 in Montevallo, Alabama to Henry Edward and Alice Gertrude Pitts Sellers. She married Ralph Lester Ludington in April 1954 in Valparaiso, Indiana. He preceded her in death on October 2, 1994. She later married Raymond Howard in October of 2003 in Phoenix, Arizona. Ruth was a homemaker and loved being a wife, mother, and grandmother. She was a member of the West Phoenix Baptist Church while she lived in Arizona, and was a member of the Unionville Baptist Church while living in Iowa. She is survived by her husband, Raymond Howard of West Grove, Iowa; two daughters, Catherine (Bobby) Wroten of Overgaard, Arizona, Barbara (John Pierce) Weir of Phoenix, Arizona; son, Don (Deborah) Ludington of Yuma, Arizona; three step-daughters, Karen (Mark) Hornaday of Knoxville, Iowa, Virginia Howard of Centerville, Iowa, Shirley Brunnmer of El Mirage, Arizona; two step-sons, Donald (Cindy) Howard of Oskaloosa, Iowa, Wayne (Melissa) Howard of Glendale, Arizona; five grandchildren, Joseph and Kyle Fabian, Todd Weir, Brendan and Sean Ludington; four step-grandchildren, Amanda and Tasheena Hornaday, Natalie and Nathan Howard; three great-grandchildren; three step-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ralph Ludington; four brothers, Edward, James Douglas, John, and Lou Sellers; and a sister, Edine Brunicon. Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, July 13, 2015 at the Wagler Funeral Home in Bloomfield with Pastor Josh Davenport officiating. Burial will be at a later date at the Resthaven Cemetery in Glendale, Arizona. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday with the family present to greet friends from 5-7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. A memorial has been established to the Unionville Baptist Church.