Ruth Stoddard

Ruth Osborne (Campbell) Stoddard died January 20, 2013 in her home. The daughter of Murdoch and Elizabeth Grace (Osborne) Campbell, Ruth was born March 25, 1917 in Chicago, Illinois. She was married to David Ansel Stoddard, who preceded her in death December 13, 2008. Services will be held at Central Christian Church on Saturday, January 26, 2013. Visitation will be from 9:30am until 11:30am in the church friendship center. Funeral services will begin at 11:30am in the sanctuary, followed by inurnment at Friends Creek Cemetery, Argenta IL. Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Homes, Decatur, are assisting the family with the arrangements. Ruth was a member of Central Christian Church of Decatur, and a patron of many charities including The Salvation Army (disaster relief), Red Cross, Smile Train, Doctors without Borders, St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Donations to any one of these charities in Ruth's honor would be welcome. Ruth grew up on Chicago's South Side with her brothers, sister, and cousins. After graduating from Linblom High School, she went to work at the Continental Illinois National Bank filling the position of Office Girl'. There she met her soul mate, David A. Stoddard, Office Boy', who was attending Northwestern University at the time. A four year courtship of fun and dancing to the Big Bands preceded their marriage on October 5, 1940 at the Thorndike-Hilton Chapel located on the campus of the University of Chicago. Ruth was a true partner in marriage and followed her husband to Nashville, TN and to New Orleans, LA before returning to Decatur, Illinois in 1946 and eventually settling in Argenta. Ruth was the foundation of her family. She was a loving mother, life coach and protector from things that go bump in the night. She was a stickler for proper grammar, and affectionately called by her family, "The Grammatical Coach". She was a member of the Argenta Home Extension and Decatur YMCA. It was there she met the Hatha Yoga and water aerobics circle (friends who she met once a month for lunch until last year). She loved them so. She was an avid reader and two years ago received a Kindle. She mastered in it a few hours much to her grandchildren and great grandchildren's delight. Our mother was dearly loved and respected by all who knew her and whose lives she touched. She approached death as she lived her life, with dignity and grace. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, David A Stoddard; her parents, Murdoch and Elizabeth Campbell and her siblings; Donald O. Campbell, William Murdoch Campbell, and Margaret Campbell. Ruth leaves her children: Michael David Stoddard (Lise) of Rochester, NY; Susan Ruth Mooney (Martin) of Warrensburg, IL; Richard William Stoddard (Cheryl) of Argenta, IL; Bruce Lester Stoddard (Carol) of Monticello, IL. Grandchildren: Eric Stoddard, Nicole Hoftyzer, Teresa Heffernan, Anne Matalonis, Elizabeth Helton, Michael Fisk, Heather Craven, Gavin Stoddard, Ian Stoddard, Colin Stoddard, Jessica Stoddard, Margaret (Maggie) Stoddard, Allison Stoddard. Great-grandchildren: Paul, Michael, Molly, Samantha, Frances, Aaron, Jamisan, Audrey, Brayden, Rachel, Caitlyn, Timothy, Cayela, Andrew, and Liam. Our family would like to thank the wonderful CNA's and HHA's from Alpha Care Health Professionals for their loving administrations to our mother. Also our thanks and heartfelt appreciation to the DMH Hospice nurses who gave us encouragement as well as much needed guidance through this process as well as loving kindness to our mother. They are indeed angels of mercy. "
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