Ruth F. Seitz Sturm, of Harrisburg
<p class="x_MsoNormal">HARRISBURG -- Ruth F. Seitz Sturm passed peacefully from this life into her eternal home on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, in Harrisburg Medical Center.
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<p class="x_MsoNormal">She was born Nov. 2, 1924, in Carmi to Jacob and Margaret Seitz, the youngest of five daughters.
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<p class="x_MsoNormal">Ruth graduated from Carmi Township High School when she was 16 and worked for The Carmi Times before marrying Everett Sturm on Aug. 31, 1944. They had been married for 54 years at the time of Everett's death in 1999.     
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<p class="x_MsoNormal">Everett and Ruth owned a farm north of Crossville, where they made their living and raised their family. They raised three children, Professor Terry (Candy) Sturm of Atlanta, Timothy (deceased), formerly of Springfield, and Trudy (Dean) West of Harrisburg.
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<p class="x_MsoNormal">Ruth was Everett's right hand on the farm all of their married life. In addition, she was active in her church, Crossville United Methodist, the Mary Circle and Sewing Club. She and Everett together started Crossville Prizewinners 4H Club, which still exists today. Ruth loved to garden, read, sing, play cards and mow the lawn. She was also known for her delicious cooking.
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<p class="x_MsoNormal">After Everett's death, Ruth moved to Harrisburg and started the last chapter of her life. There, she joined Harrisburg First United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, the Garden Club and Homemaker's Extension, and she volunteered at Harrisburg Medical Center and for Hospice of Southern Illinois.
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<p class="x_MsoNormal">Playing bridge became her passion, and she often played two or three times per week. In July of 2016, Ruth moved to Holly Brook, making new friends and enjoying her apartment. Recently, they all spent many afternoons playing dominoes together.
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<p class="x_MsoNormal">Ruth was preceded in death by her husband; parents; sisters and brothers-in-law, Lydia and Bill Miller, Louise and Lee Stanley, Esther and Floyd Taylor and Beulah and Theron Bryant; brothers-in-law, Vertis (Mary Catherine) Sturm and Cyril Sturm; sister-in-law, Wilma (Jakey) Rankin; two nephews, Ron Bryant and Rodney Sturm; two grandsons, Ryan and Benjamin West; and her son, Timothy Sturm.
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<p class="x_MsoNormal">Survivors include her children, Professor Terry (Candy) Sturm of Atlanta and Trudy (Dean) West of Harrisburg; grandchildren, Geoff Sturm of San Francisco, Sarah (Kevin) Sturm and Christy Sturm of Atlanta, Hannah Sturm of Springfield, Jacob Sturm of Bradenton, Florida, Adam (Jessica) West of Vernon Hills, Dr. Jason (Angela) West of Evansville, Indiana, and Phil West of Champaign; great-grandson, Graham Dean West of Vernon Hills; sister-in-law, Marjorie Sturm of Harrisburg; seven nieces; and five nephews.
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<p class="x_MsoNormal">She will be greatly missed and leaves behind a legacy of a loving family, an ethic of hard work and a strong Christian faith.
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<p class="x_MsoNormal">In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois.
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<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span class="contextualExtensionHighlight ms-font-color-themePrimary ms-border-color-themePrimary ident_3345_3446" tabindex="0">Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. </span><span class="contextualExtensionHighlight ms-font-color-themePrimary ms-border-color-themePrimary ident_3345_3446" tabindex="0">Tues</span><span class="contextualExtensionHighlight ms-font-color-themePrimary ms-border-color-themePrimary ident_3345_3446" tabindex="0">day, Feb. 21, in First United Methodist Church in Harrisburg.</span> Burial will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery in Grayville. <span class="contextualExtensionHighlight ms-font-color-themePrimary ms-border-color-themePrimary ident_3502_3569" tabindex="0">Visitation w</span><span class="contextualExtensionHighlight ms-font-color-themePrimary ms-border-color-themePrimary ident_3502_3569" tabindex="0">ill be</span><span class="contextualExtensionHighlight ms-font-color-themePrimary ms-border-color-themePrimary ident_3502_3569" tabindex="0"> from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20, at the church.</span>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal">Reed Funeral Chapel in Harrisburg is in charge of arrangements.