Ruth E. Owens

Ruth E. Owens, 81, 1457 Spruce, Galesburg, died at 8:48 p.m. Friday, June 5, 2009 at Heartland Health Care. Ruth was born on September 22, 1927 in Alexis, the daughter of Aden and Lois Brashear Van Fleet. She married Laurence W. Owens on January 8, 1951 in Springfield. Surviving Ruth are her husband, Laurence of Galesburg; a son, Ned (Kathy) Owens of Abingdon; 2 daughters, Laura (Jim) Aldus of Galesburg and Nancy Owens of Springfield, OR; a brother, John Van Fleet of Galesburg; and 2 sisters, Mary Pruitt and Lottus (Chub) Williams both of Galesburg. Also surviving are 9 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.  Ruth graduated from Maquon High School in 1945 and her L.P.N. from Carl Sandburg College in 1968. She was a LPN at OSF St. Mary’s ICU for 20 years, retiring in 1988. Ruth was a member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church and its Altar and Rosary Society. Her and Laurence had lived at Lake Bracken for 20 years, Naples, FL for 15 years, and had spent the past 7 years in Galesburg. Visitation will be Tuesday June 9, 2009 from 5-7 p.m. at Watson Funeral Home. Cremation will follow visitation. Memorials may be made to OSF St. Mary’s Hospital Auxiliary.