RUTH E. (BORNTRAGER) TURNOCK

Ruth E. Turnock went to join her beloved husband, Ben, on June 3, 2008.

She was born September 23, 1915, in Fort Wayne, Ind., to Nettie (Reed) and Frank Borntrager. They then moved to Renssalear and finally to South Bend.

She graduated from South Bend Central High School and went to work at Grant Department Store.

She and Ben were married in Holy Cross Church on July 29, 1939. She was known as his million-dollar baby from the 5 and 10 cent store and that was the song he always sang in the car. She and Ben lived in South Bend all their lives. Ruth retired from Huff's pharmacy.

Ruth is survived by her daughters, Sue Murchison Pare of South Bend, Ind., and Barb (Richard) Slabaugh of South Bend; sons, Dan (Bev) Turnock of Dale, Ind., and Don (Marie) Turnock of Eureka Springs, Ark. Ruth and Ben had 11 grandchildren, Amy Mitchell, Stacey (Bob) West, Sharon (Mark) Mowery, David (Tina) Slabaugh, Patrick (Jeannie) Turnock, Kelly (Chad) Johnson, Colleen (David) Wasemann, Kathleen (Jason) Doan, Christine Turnock, Jennifer (Chad) Litzman and Heather (Devin) Mastrin. She was greatly loved by her great-grandchildren, Kym (Kymmie) Pennell-West, Kevin and Benjamin West, Colin and Kaitlin Mowery, Austin and Joshua Slabaugh, Lilly and Henry Wasemann, Karly and Abby Johnson, Olivia Doan, Chloe and Emma Litzman and Kameron Mastrin. She is also survived by other special grandchildren, Bob, Melissa and Nicholas Swank, SueEllen and Jim Bowers, and Bill and Glen Swank who adopted her as "Great Grandma Ruth."

She was preceded in death by Ben, her husband of 47 years; a son, James; sons-in-law, Jerry Murchison and Howard Pare; sister, Raphael (Ralph) Lehman; and brothers, Martin (Helen) Borntrager and Raymond (Edna) Borntrager.

She was a charter member of Holy Cross Parish, Knights of Columbus No. 553, Wives and Battell Community Center. She and Ben spent their retirement summers at Camp Wildwood where they enjoyed fishing and playing cards and their many friends.

In lieu of flowers, Ruth would like donations to Potawatomi Zoo, one of her favorite places to go on Mother's Day.

A Mass of Christian Burial was Friday, June 6, 2008, in Holy Cross Catholic Church. Burial in St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park. Visitation was at Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, where a parish rosary was prayed.

The family wishes to thank all the personnel on 11 South at Memorial Hospital for all of their excellent care and compassion. To send online condolences, please visit Kaniewski.com

Kaniewski Funeral Homes Inc. is handling arrangements. (574) 277-4444

Published by Courier Press on Jun. 18, 2008.

03/07/2023 EJS