Ruth Ann Rankin

Ruth Ann Rankin
Des Moines
Formerly of Alliance, Ohio


Ruth died peacefully February 27, 2017 at Calvin Community in Des Moines, Iowa. She was born November 7, 1921 in Alliance, Ohio to Roy H. Johnson and Lela (Hamlin) Johnson. Ruth lived most of her life in Alliance, except for a few years in Columbus, Ohio and Springfield, Illinois and the last three years in Des Moines, Iowa.

She was a 1940 graduate of Alliance High School where she served as vice-president of her Senior class. Ruth went on to receive her B.S. in Elementary Education from Mount Union College in 1945. Along with many other activities, she was a member of Lauriger's, an honorary society, and served as President of her sorority, Alpha Xi Delta. As a student, she was asked by the President of the college to escort Mrs. Thomas Edison during the day Mrs. Edison was to receive an honorary degree from Mount Union.

During her high school and some of her college years, she and her brother Bob worked at the family ice cream parlor, Johnson's, a favorite place to go to get smoothies, hamburgers, and especially cherry pies made by their mother. Ruth also filled in as "coach" for the sponsored baseball team when her brother left to serve in World War II.

She married Donald W. Rankin August 14, 1946. They were married for 65 years, until Don's death August 14, 2011. Mrs. Rankin taught for Alliance Public Schools, at South Lincoln and Rockhill Elementary Schools, before retiring in 1978. She dearly loved being a teacher. Ruth was a member of Christ United Methodist Church and served on various committees. She was very active with the youth organizations at church, helping with the day care center and teaching Sunday school. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star Chapter 296, Advisor of White Roses, Masonic Chapter, past-president of Alpha Xi Delta Sorority, past-president of the Alliance Woman's Club, member of Mount Union College Women's Club, PostScript, Welkins, Tennysonians and PEO, CP chapter, before transferring to IZ Chapter with her daughter in Des Moines, Iowa.
Family left to continue her legacy include daughter, Carole A. (John) Essy, of Des Moines, Iowa; granddaughters, Rebecca (Gavin) Ching of San Diego, California, Jennifer (Micheal) Gearman of Madison, Minnesota; grandsons, Jim Essy of Des Moines, Iowa, Jason (Teri) Essy of McKinney, Texas; great-grandchildren, Marissa and Trevor Gearman, Hazel and Holdan Ching, Jordan, Logan, Jacob and Julia Essy; nieces and nephews, Phil (Cornelia) Johnson and Bouangeone Watt of Geneva, New York, Michael Johnson of Tujenga, California, Jeffrey (Mary) Johnson of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Margaret (Eric) Allen of Warren, Vermont, Larry (Trudy) Rankin of Lakeland, Florida; and many grand-nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband, Donald W. Rankin, an infant daughter, Rebecca Lynn Rankin, and brother, Robert E. Johnson.

A Memorial Service will take place at Christ United Methodist Church, 470 E. Broadway St. in Alliance, Ohio, Saturday, April 22, 2017 at 11 am. Visitation will be prior to the service at 10 am at the church. A private burial will be at Alliance City Cemetery later that day. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to Christ United Methodist Church, Alpha Xi Delta at Mount Union, or Alliance Historical Society in honor of her mentor, Mabel Hartzell. Much gratitude from the family to the doctors, nurses and aides at both Copeland Oaks, Sebring, Ohio and Calvin Community in Des Moines, Iowa for giving her loving care and quality of life.

Arrangements are by Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home, 75 S. Union Ave., Alliance, Ohio 44601 and McLaren's Resthaven Chapel in West Des Moines, Iowa. Friends may register online at: www.ctcfuneral.com (Cassaday-Turkle-Christian) or www.mclarensresthavenchapel.com (McLaren's).