Obituary of Barbara Lou Ruiter

Barbara Lou Ruiter, age 84 passed away peacefully on June 21, 2021, in Tucson, Arizona after a six-year struggle with Alzheimer’s. She is preceded in death by her husband and the love of her life, Frank Ruiter (1998).

Barbara was born August 5, 1936, in Chicago, Il. She met her husband, Frank Ruiter, at Reavis High School in Chicago and soon married. They had five children that created 12 grandchildren, and 13 wonderful great grandchildren.

She is survived by her 5 children: Gregory, Wayne (Kathy), Randy, Cheryl (Mike), and Jana (Keith). 12 grandchildren: Victor Jordan (Erica), Breanna (Adam), Brittany, Buffy (Dennis), Daniel, Marissa, Jessa (Joel), Megan (Vesco), Garrett (Tabby), Lauren (KC), Bryce and Brandon. 13 great-grandchildren: Aubrey, Ethan, Joey, Bryan, Ziva, Issac, Gracelynn, Michaela, Levi, Milena, Maksis, Brooke and Carter.

The family lived in the western suburbs of greater Chicagoland until 1978 when Barbara and Frank decided to move to Tucson, Arizona.

Barbara was born with the gift of singing. She often shared that as a child she would seek out anywhere she could sing, be it church, school, or the local Salvation Army.

She had a strong love of family, lifelong friends, and traveled annually to family reunion in Michigan. Barbara and Frank went camping practically every summer until Frank’s sudden death. She was also blessed to travel to the UK with the church choir and took numerous trips with her sister Lois.

In the early years, and with five children, Barbara worked as a full-time mom, and part-time church choir soprano. In the early 1980s she went back to college to become a nursing assistant. She then spent 15 years caring for patients at Saint Mary’s Hospital in Tucson. Also, during this time, Mom’s passion for singing expanded to the Arizona Opera Company where she sang in numerous opera performances over a decade.

Until her health condition made it impossible, Barbara was active in the life of Saint Andrew‘s Presbyterian Church, as member of the church choir and the widows group. She was a gifted singer, and we all have memories filled with Mom singing hymns, operas, musicals, and moldy oldies.

A memorial service and committal will be held at 6:30 PM on Sunday, July 25, 2021, at Saint Andrew‘s Presbyterian Church Tucson, Arizona.

In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to a charity of your choice.

Psalms 96:1 & 2

O Sing to the Lord a new song; Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless his name; show forth his salvation from day to day.