Margery Ruth Welp, of Flagstaff, Arizona, passed away from natural causes on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 12, 2024.
Ruth was born on January 6, 1936 in Iowa City, IA to Edward L. Woolley and Margery (Warner) Woolley. The Woolleys moved to various locations including Rock Island, IL, Panama City, Panama, and Meadville, PA, where Ruth graduated from high school. She attended the University of Iowa from 1953-1954. On November 27, 1954 at St. Mary’s Church in Fredericksburg, VA, Ruth and James Francis (Jim) Welp began their marriage of 67 years.
In 1961, the Welp family moved to Bancroft, IA where they raised their 5 children and lived for the next 29 years.
From 1968-1987, Ruth taught piano lessons to students learning everything from beginner basics to collegiate level pieces. She frequently hosted piano recitals for her students to play for an audience. She was a member of the Iowa Music Teachers Association (IMTA), and occasionally judged regional piano contests.
Ruth had a life-long love of animals - especially her animal companions. It began with her most beloved child- hood dog, Joey, later followed by Sam, Velvet, Huckleberry, and Bearsie. Her teenage job of riding the neigh- bor’s horses several times a week began an ongoing passion for horses and continued with her own favorites: Thunder, Prince, and Baby Surprise. She enjoyed visiting the Union Slough just outside Bancroft, and once drove her family to see a sky full of Canada Geese migrating through southwest Iowa. Volunteering as a docent at the Prescott Zoo was a highlight as well.
She shared many family adventures such as camping and cooking all meals for the family over an open fire, sightseeing internationally, or speeding up to Minneapolis to see a Shakespeare play. As an accomplished seamstress, Ruth sewed costumes, lots of ‘70’s pantsuits, and anything resembling what Jackie O. might have worn. Known for her recipes for southern Italian-style lasagne and proper English plum pudding, Ruth got the biggest charge out of trying to figure out anyone’s secret recipes.
After retiring in 1987, Ruth and Jim drove an RV around the country to visit family and friends. They settled in Prescott, AZ in 1990 where she took up oil painting. In 2021, they moved to Flagstaff to be closer to their oldest daughter, Lori, and her family.
Ruth is survived by 4 children, 11 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren: Lorraine (Welp) Kruse m. to Dennis
Kruse of Flagstaff, AZ; daughter Audrey Kruse m. to Jason Wahl Kruse with daughter Iris of Flagstaff, AZ; son Alexander Kruse m. to Hannah Liston Kruse with sons Monte and Tucker of Torquay, Australia. Linda (Welp) Baker m. to John M. Baker of Chicago, IL; daughter Catherine (Baker) Orleans m. to Alex Orleans, of Leesburg, VA; son Gregory Baker m. to Rebecca Neuman Baker of Chicago, IL. James E. Welp m. to Linda (Ontko) Welp; son Zachary Welp m. to Nina (Vrbancic) Welp with daughter Eloise; son Gabriel Welp; of Cincinnati, OH. Jeanette (Welp, Asa) Jones married to Steven A. Jones; her children, Imogene Asa, and Samuel Asa; of Chicago, IL. Cindy (Dickman) Welp m. to Steven J. Welp (dec.) and their children, Trevor, Madalyn, and Tyler; of Sioux City, IA. Also surviving are Ruth’s sister; Janet (Woolley) Banerjee of Murphysboro, IL, and Ruth’s sister-in-law, Sandra (Miller) Woolley of Pittsburgh, PA.
Ruth is preceded in death by her husband James F. Welp (1936-2022); son Steven J. Welp (1968-2011); father Edward L. Woolley (1910-1973); mother Margery (Warner) Woolley (1907-1999); and brother Frank E. Woolley (1941-2020).
Ruth Welp’s life will be honored at a Memorial Celebration to be held via Zoom on Saturday, July 27, 2024 at 11:00 am CDT. Her ashes will be dispersed in various locations where she enjoyed watching birds and imagined flying with them. Please post any condolences for the family or anecdotes about Ruth that you’d like to share on her obituary page on www.norvelowensmortuary.com. (Include your email to participate in the Zoom call). Memorial donations in Ruth Welp’s name may be made to: Compassus Living Foundation at www.compassusliv- ingfoundation.org.
Rest in Peace, Sister, Mother, Grandma, Great-Grandma. Of course heaven has dogs!
