Ruth Alma Stanton's Obituary
Decatur ' After a brave struggle, Ruth Alma Stanton of Decatur passed away at 4:38 p.m. on Thursday, September 27, 2012, at Decatur Memorial Hospital with family at her side. Mrs. Stanton was born March 15, 1925, in Frankfurt a Main Hoechst, Germany, the only child of Ernst and Emma Kohler. In 1948, she married Royal Z. Stanton. She is survived by her son Michael Stanton, who resides in Virginia, and daughter, Arlene Stanton, now living in Maryland. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband. An art student when World War II broke out, Mrs. Stanton ran the division of an international bank in Frankfurt at age 19. After the war, given her facility in English, she worked as a translator for the courts and then librarian for the Stars and Stripes, where she met her future husband while helping him with grammar. She would later serve as a librarian for other military installations, including at Itasuki Air Force Base, Japan. When her children were of school age, she returned to work to ensure they could attend college. Her business skills were always balanced by artistic talent. In her mid-thirties, she independently met the rigorous qualifications required to obtain membership in the American Society of Interior Decorators (ASID). In addition to her creative work as a designer, Mrs. Stanton was also a milliner and subsequently rose to become the regional buyer for a large millinery company. A somewhat shy person, she had a gentle sense of humor and unending patience and compassion for her family and even total strangers. At one time an active volunteer with her neighborhood historical preservation association, she also donated her time and skills to various hospital and other charitable activities. She was for many years a spirited member of her McDonald's breakfast group, avid mall walker, and long-time attendee of the Decatur Health Club, where she practiced near-daily water aerobics well into her early 80's. Mrs. Stanton loved travel, and in her life smiled, danced, and shyly sang in places ranging from Berlin to the pyramids of Egypt and the cobbled streets of Prague. Her favorite trip was to China just a year before theTiananmen Squarerevolt, where she strode atop the Wall of China with her son at her side.
The Stanton Family was kindly assisted by the Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home, where Ruth Stanton was cremated a week following her death with son and daughter to see her off on her last Earthly journey. She did not want a memorial service, but requested that any memorial contributions be made to Guide Dogs for the Blind. To view her online obituary, send condolences, and share memories, visit www.gracelandfairlawn.com.
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