Ruth Rex

Ruth Evelyn (Preston) Rex was born north of Carl, Iowa, to the union of Thomas Fletcher and Grace Adeline (Lawrence) Preston on February 8, 1918. She was the oldest of six children and often talked of being proud of helping her Mother care for your younger siblings. She passed away June 23, 2006 at Woodland Rehab Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa at the age of eighty-eight years, four months and fifteen days.
Ruth lived her entire life in Adams County. As a young adult, she helped in several family homes including the home of Dr. and Mrs. Bain. It was during this time that she met the man who was to be her husband, Carl Wesley Rex. They were married in Osceola, Iowa on August 4, 1938. To this union were born 3 daughters, Ruth Evelyn, Grace Elaine and Kathleen Ann. Ruth and Carl bought farm land in the Carl area and worked side by side to become a successful farmer family.
In 1958, when Carls health began to fail, they moved to Corning, and after only a few months, Carl died suddenly. Later, Ruth was able to purchase the house on Nodaway Street that had been built by her maternal grandfather in 1918. She spent 40 enjoyable years in that home.
Ruth found great pleasure in her garden, sewing and crafts. Ruth worked for the Corning Public School in the hot lunch program 23 years. Soon after being hired she was promoted to manager of the program. She took great pride in her cooking and will be remembered for her cinnamon rolls. She traveled widely with her friend, Ethelda Stillinger. Ruth was happy she had the opportunity to visit every state in the union accept Delaware. Ruth was a life long member of the Methodist Church. She received a pin for being an outstanding member of the Corning Church, having volunteered in the Primary Department and filling the roll of a Circle leader in United Methodist Women.
As Ruths health began to fail in 2000, she made the decision to move to Taylor Ridge Estates in Lenox, then the Corning Nursing Home and lastly, the Woodland Home in Council Bluffs.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Carl; daughter Elaine; two brothers Russell and Robert; a sister-in-law Veva Preston; a brother-in-law Ralph Sleep; one grandson; and one great grandson.
She leaves to mourn a daughter Ruth husband Al Espinoza of Sioux City, Iowa and their children, Valerie, Jim, Bill, Bob, Lawrence and Wesley; daughter Kathleen and husband Richard Hartung of Omaha, Nebraska and their daughter Nichole; grandson Rick of Olathe, Kansas and granddaughter Robin of Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, 5 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren. Brother Glen and wife Dorothy of Aurora, Colorado and sisters Marie Sleep of Bedford, Iowa and Wilma Martin and husband Jack of Mannford, Oklahoma; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews,long time friends, Lorraine Gentry and Ethelda Stillinger. Her interment will be in the Carl Cemetery along side her beloved husband, parents and daughter.