Gaston, Ruth Rittler

Ruth Rittler Gaston, formerly of Mount Vernon, passed away March 25, 2010, at the age of 104 at Alamo, Mich. She was born in Wayland, Iowa in 1905, the eldest of three daughters of Elmer G. and Lydia Ann Rittler.

Surviving Ruth are three of her children, Robert Way, Nancy Lucille and Richard Samuel; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her daughter, Betty Marie; and her husband, Samuel.

Ruth graduated from high school in 1923 and went on to the University of Iowa. She was an accomplished pianist and majored in music education. Upon graduation in 1927, Ruth married the love of her life, Samuel Gaston, whom she had met at SUI. She began teaching after her three older children were independent. Ruth retired in 1972. She lived on in Florida until 1990, when she moved to Michigan to be close to her daughter, Nancy Gaston Moore.

A celebration of Ruth's life will be held in Mount Vernon on July 8. Her urn will be buried next to Sam in the Mount Vernon Memorial Cemetery before the service. Those wishing to attend the interment should gather at Morgan Funeral Home at 10 a.m. The funeral home will be open from 11 a.m., with the service beginning at noon. A buffet lunch will be served following the service.