Ruth Laura Schroeder Behle

Ruth Laura Schroeder Behle, was 92 when she died on December 4, 2018.Ruth was born in Chicago on February 2, 1926, the daughter of Rev. Dr. Frederick W. and Laura Uhlhorn Schroeder. She was educated in Chicago schools before graduating from Webster Groves High School in Webster Groves, MO in 1942. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from Elmhurst College in 1946.In June 1946 she married Harold Louis Behle of Ferguson, MO and to this union four children were born: Patricia (Charles) Tomaro, of Surprise, AZ; Marilyn, of St. Louis, MO; Christine (Bruce) Palmer, of Phoenix, AZ; and Mark, of Peoria, AZ. In addition to her four children, she is survived by two grandchildren, Sarah (Tommy) Eagleton and Kenneth Palmer, all of Phoenix, AZ; a great-grandson, Henry Michael Eagleton and a great-granddaughter, Emily Christine Eagleton; her brother John (Maxine) Schroeder, of Evansville, IN; nieces Laurie (Buzz) Young, Lynn (John) Hilgers, and nephew Paul (Dee) Schroeder. She was preceded in death by her husband and parents.During her many years as a pastor's wife she served local churches of the Evangelical & Reformed Church and the United Church of Christ in various capacities, including choir director, organist, Women's Guild president and Sunday School teacher. She also taught high school science and later served as a substitute teacher and library aide. After Harold retired from the ministry, she worked in Technical Services at the Elmhurst College library. Her interests included sewing, knitting, birdwatching, reading, genealogy and word puzzles.Ruth was a member of The Church of the Palms in Sun City since she and Harold moved to Arizona in 1994. She served as the church librarian for a number of years, was church moderator and active in the choir and Women's Fellowship groups.A memorial service will be held at The Church of the Palms (14808 N. Boswell Blvd., Sun City, AZ 85351) at 11:00 A.M. on Friday the 14th of December.In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made out to The Church of the Palms and will be shared equally between the church and the Frederick W. and Laura Schroeder Scholarship Fund at Eden Seminary in St. Louis, MO.