Ruth Fox

RUTH L. FOX

Cedar Rapids

Ruth L. Fox, PLA, ASLA, LEED AP BD+C, passed away peacefully on Jan. 21, 2021.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Vivian and Eugene Olson.

She is survived by her husband, Robert Fox; son, Carl Gauley (Karen Lu); grandchildren, Kai and Anno; sister, Nancy (David) Settles; nephews, Vincent, D.J. and John; and niece, Elizabeth Ruth.

Ruth was born July 16, 1952, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, to Eugene and Vivian Olson. Ruth received a Bachelor of Art from Iowa State University in 1975. She married Michael L. Gauley in 1973. They had a son, Carl L. Gauley, in 1977. Ruth married Robert H. Fox on May 21, 1983, and they lived in Oxford, North Liberty and Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Ruth started her own business, Parallel Lines Graphics, while in Oxford. Later, she worked for HLM Architects and OPN Architects. Ruth returned to Iowa State University and received her Master of Landscape Architecture in 2002. Before retiring, she founded Ruth L. Fox: Landscape Architecture + Planning, where she helped clients purchase and rehabilitate historic commercial and residential buildings.

Ruth was a life-long artist whose early work focused on natural and built environments. She later developed a passion for life drawing. Ruth's artistic process drew inspiration from the subject matter's embodied energy representing moments in time that cannot always be seen. Her additional passions included creating ceramics, reading crime novels, watching Premier League Football and spending time with her grandchildren.

Ruth will be interred in Gowrie, Iowa, at a later date. Donations may be directed to Iowa Ceramics Center and Glass Studio in memory of Ruth L. Fox.