Ruth Anita Knauer

Ruth went to be with the Lord on March 11, 2023. She is celebrating in Heaven with her beloved husband Glenn. Ruth loved the Lord and she loved her family and friends and will be greatly missed.

Ruth Anita Knauer was born November 13, 1928, in Lawton OK to Ola Ann McKee and Leonard Clark Turner. She was the youngest of 5 siblings. She excelled in school and worked while a student in a work study program; first for the principal of the high school and after graduation subsequently advanced to the position of Secretary for the Superintendent of Public Schools in Lawton. She was detail oriented and had remarkable proficiency in shorthand. She was admired and respected by many for her work ethic and skills. She took on a lot of responsibility early in life.

She was athletic and fearless off the high dive. She enjoyed dancing as a young woman and was an accomplished ice skater, even skating once with the Olympian Dick Button when visiting the Olympic training rink in Colorado Springs.

She was preceded in death six months ago by her beloved husband Glenn after 70 years of marriage.

Ruth was preceded in death by her mother, Ola Ann McKee Turner. Ruth was her mother's caregiver through her cancer illness and death when Ruth was 14 years old. Ruth was preceded in death by her father, Leonard Turner. Ruth cared for him due to illness both prior to and after her marriage and until his death at age 87.

She is survived by her three children, Suzanne Rountree, PhD (Don), Sally Knauer MD (Greg With) and Steven Knauer MD (Brenda) and her four grandchildren, Bryan Rountree (Heather), Aaron Knauer (Momo), Britney Miller (Brent), and Stephanie Hicks (Joshua) and 4 great grandchildren, Hailey, Buchanan (Bucky) and Jemma Miller and Chloe Knauer.

Ruth is survived by her beloved niece Janetta Ward Johnson who loved Ruth dearly. They shared a strong bond through challenging experiences early in life and remained very close throughout their lives. Separated by 12 years Ruth was Janetta's caregiver, protector, encourager and friend. She is survived by her nephews Richard Ward, Ronald Ward, Phillip Stroud, and Timothy Stroud and nieces Anita Ward Cook, Karen Stroud and Joanne Stroud Taylor.

As a military spouse Ruth faced the challenging task of raising her family in many duty stations stateside and in Europe. She would always say when faced with another move that as a family we would consider it an opportunity and another adventure. As a military spouse she also cared for her children and her elderly father, often alone while Glenn served on overseas unaccompanied tours in Korea and on artillery maneuvers and travel in his capacity in his career with the US Army.

She believed in the value of education and always doing your best. She instilled these values in her three children and she and Glenn raised two medical doctors and a PhD. She was so very proud of her children and loved them all very much.

Her caregiving in her later years extended to her grandchildren and in particular to Aaron Knauer and Britney (Knauer) Miller whom she and Glenn helped raise and who respected and loved her very much. They shared a special and strong lifelong bond.

Ruth loved dogs and particularly loved their dog Kelly who was rescued in Oklahoma and lived a long and happy life with Ruth and Glenn. More recently she has enjoyed "puppy love!" as Greg and Sally have shared their puppy Forrest with pictures, videos and frequent visits. Her smiles and expressions of emotion had become less frequent due to her Parkinson's disease but Forrest the pup adored Ruth and brought her joy.

Ruth will be greatly missed by the many people whose lives she touched. Her strength, loyalty and love for family and friends throughout her life was ever present even through her illness and life challenges. She was a woman of faith and love in action. She demonstrated ongoing love, protection and care for Glenn throughout his long journey with Alzheimer's even after she herself began her journey with the challenges of Parkinson's disease.

Her family is incredibly grateful for the kindness of her caregivers and nurses at Green Houses Mirasol, Touching Hearts Homecare and Pathways Hospice Care.

If I had to describe her life journey in one word, it would be caregiver. Caregiver first for her mother, then her niece, her father, her kids, her grandkids, and finally her beloved husband. It was my honor and privilege to care for my precious parents Ruth and Glenn in their last years and I am forever grateful.

A funeral service is planned for March 29, 2023 in Santa Fe, New Mexico with burial at Santa Fe National Cemetery.