Ruth E. Reather

Ruth Erlene Reather, 90, passed away Thursday, January 30th in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Born July 31, 1929 in Goessel, Kansas to Peter B. and Lena Balzer Fast. She was raised and baptized in the Mennonite Church. Ruth graduated from Goessel High School in 1947, Bethel College in 1951 and Wichita University with a Masters in Music ED., in 1957 with emphasis in piano. She taught vocal and band music in public schools in Kansas and Colorado. In 1960, she went overseas and taught vocal music to U.S. military dependent children in Ankara, Turkey and the next year in Woodbridge, England. While in England, she met and married Chaplain Lt. Col. Howard W. Reather in 1963. She had two sons: Timothy, born in Woodbridge, England and Dwight, born in North Carolina. After retiring from teaching in the public schools, she continued to teach private piano for the rest of her life and played the piano and organ in numerous churches. While her husband was a Chaplain in the Military, they moved from England to North Carolina, Oklahoma City and then Anchorage, Alaska where he retired in 1970. They then moved to Weiner, Arkansas; Iola, Kansas, Tulsa Oklahoma; Sapulpa, Oklahoma, where both sons graduated from High School; Alamogordo, NM; and Fort Worth, TX. In 1992, they moved back to Tulsa, Oklahoma to be near their sons and their families. They joined the First Christian Church in downtown Tulsa where Ruth played piano for Sunday School Classes and sang in the choir. She belonged to TAMTA (Tulsa Accredited Music Teachers Association) and the Hyechka Music Club and also sang in the Hyechka Chorus for a number of years. She spent many hours volunteering for Angel Food Ministry. Along with playing music, Ruth enjoyed the Tulsa Philharmonic and Opera, traveling, and other Fine Arts in the area. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Howard, in 2012; her sisters, Linda, Adina and Elda; and her brothers: Anton, Arnold, Marvin, Irvin, and Orlando. Ruth is survived by her son Timothy and wife Tammy of Broken Arrow, OK and son Dwight and wife Sheila of Tulsa, OK, along with grandchildren Donavan (Adam), Heather, Jessica, Destiny (Brooke), Valory, Damien, Mischa, Kayla and Kyle; and 5 great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, friends may contribute to: Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, or Tulsa Area Music Teachers Association. Visitation will be 6-8 PM, Tuesday, February 4, 2020 at Moore's Southlawn, 9350 E. 51st, Tulsa, OK. Memorial service will be 10:00 A.M., Wednesday, February 5, 2020 at Kirk of the Hills, 4102 E. 61st, Tulsa, OK. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233

Ruth E. Reather

July 31, 1929 - January 30, 2020