Ruth was born April 30, 1922, in Oswego, Kansas, to Clarence and Margaret Schmidt. She grew up on the family farm just outside of Oswego with her five sisters and two brothers. After completing grades one through eight at Oak Grove School, she graduated from Oswego High School in 1939. Ruth moved to Wichita in 1940 to live with her beloved Aunt Elizabeth Schmidt and attended Wichita Business College. She was then employed at Beechcraft Aviation of Wichita, where she met and married Claude Dwight Sutton on Sept. 16, 1942.
Ruth and Claude made their home in Wichita and raised three sons there. She was very active at Westwood Presbyterian Church, The Horseless Carriage Club and her children’s widely varied activities. Upon their retirement in 1975, Ruth and Claude returned to her hometown of Oswego, where they resided at Westside Homes until Claude’s passing in 2004. In 2007 she moved to Claremore.
Ruth and Claude loved their life after returning to Oswego. They were able to travel this country as “snowbirds” for a time, travel to Germany to see the great “Passion Play” and travel to Ireland just because it sounded like fun. She and Claude, along with other dedicated individuals, were instrumental in the founding of the Oswego Senior Center, where they spent many happy hours working, playing, delivering meals for local seniors and enjoying the friendships that grew from their service. Ruth was also active in the First Presbyterian Church of Oswego, as well as being a longtime member of the Oswego Historical Society.
Above all, Ruth loved her family. Her grandchildren were always a joy. Her husband, children, grandchildren, sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews all delighted her. She loved all the visits, family reunions and gatherings immensely.
Survivors include two sisters, Eleanor Monroe and Cora Irene Graue; two sons, Craig Sutton and wife Cecilia and Spencer Sutton and wife Teri; daughter-in-law Beverly Sutton; five grandchildren, Jeremy Sutton and wife Iryna, Tiffany Sutton, Alisha Sutton, Alonna Sutton and Ian Sutton; and numerous beloved nieces, nephews and their families.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Margaret Schmidt; her husband Claude; her son Dwight; her brother Clarence Jr.; her brother Edward and wife Kathleen; her sister Lucille Morris and husband Howard; her sister Mabel Ward and husband Cecil; her sister Grace Lewis and husband Bob; and brothers-in-law Harvey Graue and Rufus “Junior” Monroe.
We love you and miss you, Mom. We’ll see you on the other side.
The memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 10 at First United Methodist Church of Oswego.
Memorials are suggested to the First Presbyterian Church of Oswego or the First United Methodist Church of Oswego.
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