On February 20, 2025, Ruth Heider, 90, of Bowling Green, passed away and now rests safely in the arms of Jesus. Ruth was born on May 30, 1934 to Edmund and Edna (Warnke) Matthews in Toledo, Ohio and was the younger of two girls.
Ruth was graduated from Morrison R. Waite High School where she caught the eye of star athlete James “Jim” Heider. Ruth continued her education at Toledo University (now known as the University of Toledo), earning a bachelor’s degree in education. Afterward, Ruth taught kindergarten at Oakdale Elementary School. Ruth and Jim were married on June 21, 1958 and were blessed with children: Matthew (Cynthia), Kristina (Raimund) Guensche, Mark (Shelly), Stephanie (Mark) Lauwers, Laura (Keith) Slembarski and bonus son, James (Julie) Calhoun.
Ruth had a sense of wanderlust which took her to all 50 states, Europe, Japan and Australia. Annual vacations were spent at Camp Luther. Children and grandchildren accompanied Jim and Ruth on various trips. A deep faith in God and commitment to Lutheran theology inspired Ruth to become a founding member of Abiding Word Lutheran Church. Ruth served as the church historian and librarian. Ruth was interested in genealogy and volunteered for the Wood County Genealogical Society. She also loved reading and spending time with her dogs.
Ruth’s devotion to family was apparent to all, whether she was heading the school PTA, cheering on her children in their endeavors, or hosting weekly pizza nights for the grandkids. She will be fondly remembered for her numerous family traditions, often centered around the Christmas and Easter holidays she truly loved – marathon Christmas cookie decorating sessions, the Christmas pickle ornament hunt, Christmas pageants starring her grandchildren and epic Easter egg cracking contests. Her children and grandchildren have adopted these traditions, which will always serve as a warm reminder of her.
For a woman who loved family, it is fitting that Ruth was blessed with many grandchildren: Kathryn (“BJ”), River (Jaime), James (Shelby), Jonathan (Candace), Sarah, Rachel (Robert), Amy (Sean), Benjamin, Anna (Austin), Erin (Jacob), Elisabeth (Jeffrey), Samuel, Michael, Emilia (Nicholas), Leah, Spencer, Joshua (Michaela), Andrew (Bethany), Matthew, Lukas, Caleb, Johanna, Carrie, Abigail and Martha; and an ever increasing number of great-grandchildren: Keegan, William, Jonah, Raiden, Kellen, Hayley, Xavier, Carson, Clara, Charlotte, Evelyn, Matthew, Sophia, Emma, Ruth, Lucy, Lydia, Robert, Colin, Caroline, Margaret, Symeon, Graham and King.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Jim, sister Carolyn Dunlap, son Matthew and many special friends and relatives she loved throughout her lifetime.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 2, 2025, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM at Abiding Word Lutheran Church, 17202 Mercer Rd, Bowling Green, Ohio. Funeral services will commence at 4:00 PM. A private interment will occur at Oak Grove Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Dunn Funeral Home located in the Historical District of Bowling Green, Ohio at 408 W. Wooster St.
Memorial donations may be made to Abiding Word Lutheran Church or the Wood County Genealogical Society.
The family would like to thank the staff at The Willows at Bowling Green for the care they provided to Ruth in her final days.
“I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me.” Philippians 4:13
