Ruth Barbara Mesecher Bunten

Ruth Barbara Mesecher Bunten was born in Davenport, Iowa on May 22, 1924. Her parents were Elsie Koopman Mesecher and Roland Border Mesecher. She had one brother, Howard Willis and one sister, Lois Evelyn. Ruth attended Davenport schools and graduated from Davenport High School in June, 1942. She was active in the drama department in high school and during World War II she traveled with a theater group for the USO, directing some of the plays. She married James Bunten on January 15, 1946, just weeks after he returned from the war. They were parents of two children, Barbara Ann and Michael James. They lived in Davenport until 1956 and then moved to Phoenix, Arizona. In 1963, the family moved to Burbank, California. Ruth was employed at Burbank Community Hospital and in 1966, she joined the Valley Medical Group in North Hollywood, where she was an office manager for 25 years. She and Jim owned Bob’s Termite Service in Burbank, and she managed the office work for that business as well. Ruth was an active member of churches in Davenport, Phoenix, Burbank, Beaumont and Sun City West. Ruth and Jim retired in 1991 and moved to Highland Springs Country Club in Cherry Valley, California. She enjoyed her church activities, golf, bridge and singing in the Cherry Valleyaires chorus. Ruth and Jim moved to Sun City West, Arizona in 2012. Jim passed away in 2015. Ruth loved playing cards and was active in the Sun City West Women’s bridge group. At 100 years old she was still playing card games with her family. She passed away peacefully on March 7, 2025. She is survived by her daughter, Barbara and her son, Michael, four grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
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