Ruth Sawyer
Age - 91
November 30, 2023
Ruth Sawyer passed away on November 27, 2023, after a brief illness. She was born on March 6, 1932 in Pandora, Ohio to Clarence David Diller and Marie Ruth Claudon, the sixth of seven children: Maricella Marie, Alford, David, Mark, James, and Timothy. Ruth grew up on a farm in Pandora, OH until the age of 15, when the family moved "into town," to nearby Bluffton, Ohio. She came from a long line of devout Mennonites. Her great-grandfather, Bishop Henry Egly (1824-90), came to the United States in 1837 and eventually founded the Defenseless Mennonites (now, Evangelical Mennonites) when he was expelled from the main Mennonite group for advocating adult baptism. Out of this upbringing she learned the values of:Serving & being a hostess to many:Ruth, and Spencer were known for their hospitality and Ruth for her wonderful Sunday pot roast lunches, with mashed potatoes and vegetables, and pie or cake for dessert. They fed many a visiting preacher, missionary and others. In the mid- to late 1970's, Thanksgiving for 70+ persons was first held at the Naperville house (a split-level) and eventually had to be moved to the church basement. Frugality and hard work:Gardening with her family who always kept a very large gardenCanning and freezing the resulting produce, to provide for a growing familySewing her own clothes and many for her children (She took a tailoring course at age 30. ) Managing the household budget for 7 personsCommitment to God, husband, and family - mostly in that orderGentlenessMentoring many young womenRuth loved music from an early age. In high school, she attended Interlochen Summer Music Camp, learning violin and piano. At Wheaton College (Wheaton, Illinois), she majored in piano but also played the violin, which was how she met her future husband, Spencer Sawyer. It is said that he saw her across the orchestra in 1953, and the rest is history! He also was known to say that he "saved Ruth out of the 'bowels of Pierce Chapel'" where she spent hours in a practice room. Ruth also accompanied Spencer's speech recitals. Her eldest son jokes he learned to appreciate Rachmaninoff while in the womb, as his mother was practicing for her Masters recital when he decided to arrive early. Spencer knew that SHE was the only girl when he had to go off to boot camp during the Korean War. When he came back, Ruth had also realized what Spencer knew earlier, so they were married on August 20, 1955 following her graduation. While Spencer finished designing and building their first home at 520 Sears Lane in Wheaton, Illinois (1956-1961), they briefly lived across the street with old family friends. Spencer worked for The Illinois Bell Telephone Company in Chicago and was subsequently transferred to AT&T in NYC in 1961. The family moved to Madison, New Jersey for five years. Spencer was then transferred back to northern Illinois, and they settled at 6 Notre Dame Drive, Naperville, IL (1966-2021), where they raised all their children and enjoyed the park along the DuPage River until Ruth had to move to Sunrise Assisted Living in May 2021. (Spencer passed away in January 2010. )Ruth and Spencer had seven children together in 20 years: Philip Nathaniel (1956), Karen Diane (1957), Katherine Marie (1957), Celia Ruth (1960), Stephen Spencer (1963), Janna Christine (1971), and Rebecca Elizabeth (1976). Understandably much of Ruth's time was spent managing the family. However, she continued to use her musical gifts at the Evangelical Free Church of Naperville, playing piano and organ for the quickly growing congregation from the time it was on N. Main Street to building on Hobson Rd and College Ave (Compass Church). Ruth began teaching piano students and developing a professional relationship with the Illinois State Music Teachers Association (ISMTA) for whom she helped judge student work. She then continued teaching piano for the next 35 years, adding students when she and Spencer finally became "empty nesters. "She also enjoyed travels with Spencer, taking several camping trips around the western U. S. and Canada with all the kids. With an empty nest, she and Spencer took a number of trips back to the Canadian Rockies and Europe. They enjoyed the Passion Festival in Oberammergau and another trip to southeast France to visit relatives and learn more about her forebears who came from Alsace (Nancy), France and Bern, Switzerland. Other trips took them to Newfoundland, England and northwest France, visiting friends and looking for the Sawyer roots. They also moved short-term to Kenya, where Ruth taught piano at Rift Valley Academy and Spencer consulted with them on general business and administrative practices and installing a telephone system. Over the years Ruth gained a total of 26 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. She could quite often be found at the center of them all, playing with them, enjoying them, patiently teaching them piano, and gently working with them. She never wanted to be the center of attention or "stand out," however in the end she was much of the "quiet" glue that held - and holds - her and Spencer's family together. She will be greatly missed. Please send any gifts to:One Way Ministries, Meridian Lakeside Plaza, 495 N Commons Dr, Aurora, IL 60504In Memory of Ruth Sawyer. Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Naperville, was entrusted with arrangements.Show more
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