Ruth Garmon

Ruth Garmon 77, of Marshalltown, passed away on Monday, July 11, 2011 at Glenwood Place.Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 15, 2011 at the First Church of the Nazarene in Marshalltown, Iowa. Visitation will be held One hour prior to service. Memorials may be directed to Nazarene Compassionate Ministrys. For condolences please visit www.mitchellfh.com. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Ruth and her family. Phone 641-844-1234.Ruth Garmon was born November 16, 1933 in Chariton, Iowa to her parents Walter and Amy Anderson. When she was 8 years old, they moved to Des Moines, Iowa where she attended public schools and then graduated from North high School in 1952. She proceeded with a career as a file clerk and typist for the next couple of years. After much teasing, flirting and singing together, Ruth married Jerry Garmon on July 11, 1953 at Des Moines First Church of Nazarene. From there, they moved to Bourbonnais, Illinois where Jerry enrolled at Olivet Nazarene College to pursue a call to preach. Ruth worked at Joliet Arsenal in nearby Joliet, Illinois as a clerk typist and key punch operator from1953-1957. We lost our first daughter, Jerilyn Lucile in 1955 at Bourbonnais, Illinois. After college, they moved to Beloit, Wisconsin where Jerry accepted his first pastorate at The Nazarene Church in Rockton, Illinois. This was also where their daughter was born, Debbra Ruth. A year later, they moved to Rockton where Ruth worked for J.I. Case Company as a key punch operator until their first son, Randy lee was born in June of 1959. She served as a pastors wife, VBS director, Childrens Ministry Director, church secretary and played piano & organ. With a move to Bloomfield, Iowa second son, Rick Lyle was born in August of 1962. Here is also where they lost their third son, Roy Lyle in 1965. Her husband accepted a call to preach in Iowa City, Iowa in 1966 where she resumed the role of church secretary, Childrens Church Director, VBS Director, and Missionary President and sang in the choir for the next three years. From 1964-69, Ruth and Jerry took on the role of Summer Childrens camp Director at the Iowa Nazarene Campgrounds, formerly in West Des, Iowa. A move to Marshalltown, Iowa in 1969 rooted them in their last pastorate until Jerry retired in 1998. Here Ruth again served as church secretary, led the VBS ministry, Childrens Director, Womens Ministry Director (GLO), and Adult Ministry Director and sang in the choir. She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Amy Anderson, daughter Jerilyn, son Roy, Sisters Evelyn Anderson and Marcelene Foss, Brother Ronald Anderson.Survivors include her husband, Rev Jerry Garmon, her children, daughter, Debbra (Rik) Dooms, sons, Rev. Randy (Beverly) Garmon, and Rev. Rick (Karen) Garmon, five grandchildren; Jamey Garmon, Josh Garmon, Heather Garmon, Charla (Boe) Benefield and Holly (Augustine) Luna Jr. a great-grandson Jordan Luna , her brother, Steven (Kathy) Anderson, and sister-in-law, Jan Anderson.