Avon Lew Ruth
January 17, 1926 – March 23, 2017

Avon Lew Ruth, 91 of rural Downing, Missouri passed away on Thursday, March 23, 2017 at the Scotland County Care Center in Memphis, Missouri.

The son of John Raymond and Millie Pernie (Wheeler) Ruth, he was born on January 17, 1926 in rural Downing, Missouri. On July 31, 1959 in Chicago, Illinois, he was united in marriage to Jeanne Edith Shier.

Survivors include his wife, Jeanne Ruth of Downing, Missouri; three sons, David Ruth of Downing, Missouri, Philip Ruth and wife, Cheryl of Bourbonnais, Illinois, Brian Ruth and wife, Peggy of Wright City, Missouri; 6 grandchildren, Donald Ruth and wife, Jamie of Bryon, Illinois, Michael Ruth of Rochelle, Illinois, Daniel Ruth of Lowell, Indiana, Timothy Ruth and wife, Nicole of Batavia, Illinois, Tammy Ruth and partner, Joseph of Kankakee, Illinois and Steven Ruth and wife, Shelley of Troy, Missouri; 4 great grandsons; 6 great granddaughters; two brothers, I. G. Ruth and wife, Maxine of Downing, Missouri and John Earl Ruth and wife, Lois of Jefferson City, Missouri; one sister, Pernie Rae Smith of Anchorage, Alaska; one brother-in-law, Donald Shier and wife, Catherine of Toledo, Ohio; nieces and nephews and other family members.

Avon is preceded in death by his parents; one son, Gary Ruth and one brother, Ivan Lee Ruth.

Avon served his country in the United States Army during World War II. He was honored with a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. After being honorably discharged, he was employed as an auto mechanic with General Motors for approximately 30 years in the Chicago Plant in LaGrange, Illinois.

Avon was a member of the Downing Christian Church in Downing, Missouri.
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A visitation will be held on Sunday, March 26, 2017 between the hours of 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Norman Funeral Home in Lancaster, Missouri. Memorials have been established for the Schuyler County Library. A memorial service, military rites and burial will be held on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel Hill Gardens South in Worth, Illinois. Online condolences may be expressed to the family by logging on to normanfh.com. Arrangements are under the direction of the Norman Funeral Home of Lancaster, Missouri.