Linda Viola Ruehrmund

LINDA VIOLA RUEHRMUND
--Enabler, Coordinator, Historian known for her Leadership and Outreach-
born November 4, 1944 to George and Viola (Rengert) Ruehrmund who preceded her in death, passed peacefully September 20, 2024 and is survived by numerous cousins and a multitude of friends.

Linda grew up in the Cardington Lincoln Schools and played flute in the band. In later years she created and annually updated a Cardington Alumni Directory distributed at the Memorial Day homecoming weekend gatherings that followed. She attended Capital University, graduating in 1966 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education. Linda taught in the Columbus Public Schools at Scottwood, Shady Lane, and Olde Orchard Elementary Schools from 1966-1996 as a 4th through 6th grade teacher. During her tenure she added a Masters Degree to her credit also. Much to the pleasure and endorsement of her Aunt Isabel Hay, Linda was honored with membership in the educational sorority, Delta Kappa Gamma, where she held various offices and served two terms as President of the Society. Also in her post-Capital years, she was involved in outreach as President of the Capital University Alumnae Association. The importance of education was never slighted by Linda even after retiring from classroom teaching. That is evidenced as from 1966 to the present, Linda has held various offices, including President, of the Morrow County Retired Teachers Association (MCRTA).

Linda made such a difference in SO MANY lives! When she retired after thirty years of teaching, in 1997 she established a travel group called The Happy Wanderers in the Morrow County area (Cardington, Mt. Gilead and Marion). What began with four trips per year grew into twelve per year with 400-500 people participating in the trips over the years traveling north, south, east and west as well as into Canada.

Serving as President of the Morrow County Senior Citizens (MCSC), also known as the Seniors on Center, she worked as a finance member, served on the levy committee as well as Board President. In addition, she further inspired the members to participate in Bible study and in the formation of a choir.

The Chester Arbor of the Gleaners fraternal insurance group has benefitted from Linda leading numerous fundraising events, and the Friends of Cardington so appreciate all the support she contributed to their efforts. The annual Rengert Reunion plans were also enhanced by suggestions Linda proposed.

Her lifelong membership and labors of love at St. John Lutheran Church (Windfall) Cardington include playing piano, singing in the choir, leading the children's choir and Bible studies as well as adult Sunday School, teaching Vacation Bible School, instituting a greeting card ministry, administering home communion to those shut in and hospitalized and working with the Stephen Ministry program. Her dedication to guiding projects and studies for the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (WELCA) at Windfall and with the Southeast Conference of the Northwest Synod WELCA of Ohio is significant and noteworthy. In August of 2023 Linda sponsored a Christian chalk artist, Elva Hurst, to come to central Ohio and witness through 'chalk talks' to area churches and veterans. One of Linda's passions was participating in and leading hymn sings. Three children of the Windfall congregation have been blessed to lovingly call Linda their godmother: Anne and Alicia McElwee and Charles Gantner (one of the three sons of former pastor, Luther Gantner).

On a daily basis, she seeks to include anyone who may be experiencing being alone into the circle of caring and belonging. She continually reaches out to individuals who need a listening ear or a 'pick me up' in their lives-whether in the form of a phone call, a shared experience, a plate of home-baked cookies, etc. The neighborhood in which she resides is a perfect case in point. Her neighborliness to the now deceased Pam Keckler, Rudy Weise, Alfred Holt (WWII veteran) and others demonstrated Jesus' command to 'love your neighbor as yourself.' Her neighborhood Christmas open houses, which would find Linda at the piano playing Christmas carols for all to sing and rejoice over the occasion, were a highlight looked forward to each December.

When Linda was not overseeing all the organizations in which she was involved, you'd find her on her riding mower tending her acreage, her precious roses and her garden. The produce from her garden graced her table as she was an excellent cook (like her mother before her!) and loved to host dinner parties and card-playing social gatherings. She so appreciated and thus collected angels and became associated with Smiley faces (now emojis) as they symbolized her Happy Wanderers travel group. More than anything, she enjoyed sharing many adventures with her many cherished friends--some of whom were her Golden Girls who all went to Capital University together!

For the "Golden Girls" graduates of Capital University who've maintained friendship for more than six decades, Linda's been at the core and served as the catalyst for sharing information and more. Though an only child who hadn't married and had children of her own, Linda was part of ALL our families. For example, Linda is godmother for college roommate, Hilda Fohs' son Keith, who upon working in the backcountry in the Sierra Nevada Mountains settled in to work at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area in central California. Linda shares the godmother title for Hilda's daughter Amy who has looked up to Linda her entire life and now is following in her footsteps teaching Kindergarten. Linda was instrumental in traveling to attend Donna Mitchell's daughter Deb being inducted into and awarded status as a nurse in the U. S. Air Force. Donna's granddaughter Audrey's middle name is Lin (spelled specifically with an 'i' and one 'n') honoring Linda. Though now living in Australia, Judi Fisher has never felt separation due to Linda's steadfast and ongoing communication not only on behalf of herself but all the rest of we Golden Girls-which also includes Judi's daughter Jaom and her family. Karen Ahijevych and Susan Fisher, their husbands, children and grandchildren have experienced the same inclusiveness. Linda has witnessed the successes and heartaches we college friends and our families have experienced through all the years literally acting as the glue that holds us all together.

And let's not forget the fun times with Linda! She's the ultimate game player! When it comes to pinochle and euchre you want Linda as a partner. Now Bananagrams is another story.

Linda's been there for us when we've lost our parents, endured illnesses and hospitalizations and suffered family situations that could cripple those without faith and without the help of friends like her. She's shared the joyful occasions: the weddings of Lisa Ahijevych, Amy Fohs and Deb Mitchell and the 50th wedding anniversaries of Mike & Karen Ahijevych, Tom & Susan Fisher and Phil & Donna Mitchell.

Linda requested thanks be given to Barb McElwee, Lea Ann Maceyko, Carolyn Fox, Hilda Fohs, Becky Kilgour, Darlene Alexander and to the Independent Caregiving Services of Marion and Tranquility Hospice of Delaware.

Visitation will be Thursday, September 26 from 4 to 8 pm at St John Lutheran Church, 5070 Newmans Cardington Road East, Cardington Ohio 43315. Burial will be Friday, September 27 at 10 am at St John Lutheran Cemetery followed by a memorial/hymn singing service at 11 am at the Church.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, Linda's wish would be a monetary contribution to either St John Lutheran Church Memorial Fund at the above address, or the Cardington Alumni Association, 4196 County Road 28, Cardington Ohio 43315 in her memory.

The Ruehrmund home in Cardington became and still serves as a second home to many of us-so much so that we all even know the way around her kitchen. Linda's extremely organized, welcoming and has fostered camaraderie. That is epitomized with the Happy Wanderers motor coach traveling group previously referenced which she organized 27 years ago.

Let's just say at the end of the day it's a friend like Linda with whom you want to share a peaceful "Good night, my friend and God bless" and to whom our Lord will greet with the words "Well done, faithful servant!"

Gompf Funeral Service of Cardington is honored to have been chosen to assist the Ruehrmund family with Linda's final wishes and condolences may be expressed at www.gompffh.com.