Ruth Starr

RUTH ELAINE STARR

Marion

Ruth Elaine Starr, 86, of Marion, left this earth on Sunday, May 14, 2017, at St. Luke's Hospice, Cedar Rapids, to join her husband, Walter, and others, playing pinochle in heaven. The family will greet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 17, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Marion. Celebration of Life will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 18, at the funeral home conducted by Vicki Standley and Melinda Cree-Anthony. A graveside service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, May 18, at Hayes Cemetery, rural Toledo.

Ruth is survived by children, David Starr of Tucson, Ariz., and Lori (Dave) Jencks of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Aaron and Shelby Jencks; sister, Esther Lees of Marion; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Walter Starr.

Ruth was born Oct. 12, 1930, in Marshalltown, Iowa, the daughter of James Donald and Joy (Lewis) Hayes. Ruth was united in marriage to Walter Clair Starr on May 11, 1952, in Toledo, Iowa. Walter passed away in 1989. Ruth worked at the Iowa State Highway Commission and Northwestern Mutual Insurance, before retiring to raise her children. She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Marion, where she was a Sunday school leader. She also helped with the coffee hour and made greeting cards for the members. She also was a member of the United Methodist Women organization and had served as a district officer. Ruth enjoyed bird watching, reading, gardening, playing cards, rubber stamping and dominoes. She also spent time delivering Meals on Wheels and was a Brownie co-leader.

The family would like to thank hospice, St. Luke's Hospital CCU, Ridgeview Assisted Living and the Hiawatha Care Center for their compassion, strength, support and hugs.

Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church in Marion or UnityPoint-St. Luke's Hospice.

Please share a memory of Ruth at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.