FUNERAL SERVICES will be held at
Hill and Son Funeral Home in
Appleton City, Missouri on
Monday, September 24, 2012 at
2:00 p.m.

The MINISTER will be
Pastor Ron Beaton

VISITATION will be held at the funeral home preceding the service on Monday, September 24, 2012 between 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

INTERMENT will be in the
Appleton City Cemetery,
Appleton City, Missouri

The family suggests MEMORIAL contributions to Trinity United Methodist Church

Ruth Iva Waite, 89, daughter of Reuben A. and Iva Pearl (Perkins) Tandy, was born January 31, 1923 in Osceola, Missouri. She passed away September 20, 2012, at Christian Healthcare in Nevada, Missouri. Ruth grew up in the Osceola and Vista area, attending Bradford Elementary School and graduating at the age of 16 from Osceola High School in 1939. Ruth had always wanted to be a teacher and had an insatiable thirst for learning. Shortly after graduation she became certified by taking a teacher exam and attending fifteen weeks of schooling at Central Missouri State Teacher's College in Warrensburg, Missouri. She was hired immediately to teach grades 1-8 by her own one room elementary school for four years until its close. Ruth continued taking college classes and earned her bachelor's degree in education in 1975 at the age of 52. She taught for nine years in Roscoe, Missouri and fourteen years at Hudson until her retirement in 1990. She continued teaching a few hours each day at Hudson for three more years.

Ruth and Van knew each other from youth and were united in marriage on January 4, 1943, in Osceola, Missouri. Their love for each other was deep and abiding. To this union four daughters were born. From 1943-1945 Van served in the United States Army. Following his discharge and return to the states he and Ruth began family life together raising dairy and beef cattle on a farm in the Mt. Zion community east of Rockville, Missouri. In 1973 they moved to Appleton City, Missouri. They were faithful members of the Trinity United Methodist Church, serving on committees and wherever they were needed.

Ruth was very selfless and compassionate, putting other's needs first. She enjoyed caring for her family by cooking, sewing and gardening. She had a deep faith in her Savior Jesus Christ and it was important to her to share that with her family. She was extremely proud of her family and you could see the intense joy they all brought to her. She felt truly blessed and content.

Preceding Ruth in death was Van, her husband of 64 years, her parents, and one brother Ray Tandy. Survivors include her four daughters and their husbands: Sandra and Bill Long, Appleton City, Missouri, Linda "Skip" and Jack Mead, Nevada, Missouri, Betty and Gerald Stephan, rural Montrose, Missouri and Debbie and Dean Walker, Nevada, Missouri; grandchildren: Jeff and Kate Long, Mark and Misty Long, Doug and Jen Mead, Darren and Amy Mead, Matt and Jessica Stephan, Erin and Chad Vogel, Adam and Alisha Walker, Emily and Andy Hayes, and Ben Walker; great grandchildren Jenna, Kyle and Peyton Long, Jarrett and Jace Long, Katie and Kylie Mead, Gracie and Lane Mead, Coy and Lila Stephan, Mason and Abigayle Vogel, Graham Walker, and Walker and Morgan Hayes; a sister Opal Lovewell, Osceola, Missouri; several nieces and nephews and friends.