Born Ruth Marie Bollinger on February 26, 1917 to Burton Baumen Bollinger and Ruth Mantour Bollinger in St. Louis, Missouri, Ruth (Ruthie) spent most of her life in Webster Groves, Missouri. She was the second daughter of five children. She was a hard-working optimist. She felt that there was no task (building home additions, remodeling, installing an air conditioner in the family car) that she couldn’t do if “someone else can do it.” She taught dress-making and tailoring for many years and then became a flower show judge. She was a wedding florist from 1969 until 2002. She was a wonderful example of great mental health. She always looked and found the positive in everything. Her greatest job and joy throughout her life was her four children.

She lived independently in her home on Wilshire Terrace since 1960 until a month shy of 98. She was a very strong, educated person, but expressed such kindness, generosity, and great humor. One of her last wishes was to die peacefully in her home she loved. She had been ready for this day for some time, and never wanted to burden her family. She fulfilled all her wishes in life. She got out of bed and enjoyed a last supper with all her children and several grandchildren in the dining room. She ate her two White Castle burgers, the small chocolate shake and laughed at our family jokes.

Ruth is survived by her brother Jack (Carolyn) Bollinger of Cheshire, Connecticut, her sons Jack (Patricia) Lueders of Webster Groves, Paul Lueders of Ballwin, and Kevin (Kathy) Lueders of Town and Country, daughter Nancy Ruth Held of Reno, Nevada, and her grandchildren: Darren (Gina) Lueders, Glenda (Jeremy) Braxton-Brown, Lesley (Jay) Davis, Jay Jay Held Lowden, Mark (Rachel) Held, Bradford Held, Morgan Held, Logan Lueders and his mother Susan Lueders, Michael (Julia) Lueders, Kristin (Anna) Lueders, Jenny (Andrew) Davis, Jackie (Ross) Hohlt, and great grandchildren: Frankie Lueders, Stella Ruth Braxton-Brown, Melody, Jessica Joy and Luke Lowden, Anika and Turik Held, Molly Lueders and Lillian Davis.

She was preceded in death by her husband Harry Lueders, her sister Mary Lou Maginn, and brothers Burton and Mark Bollinger, and her beloved German Shepherd Madchen.

No mother/grandmother/great grandmother could be more loved and missed by her family. Special thanks to Pat Farell for his love, friendship and helping to keep Ruth healthy the past couple of years, to Dr. Asim Ali and Dr. Keith Mankowitz for extending our mother’s life and to Hope Hospice for their care and kindness during the last months..

Her words of advice to you would be to love your family, learn to play bridge so you would have great friends and a superior brain, laugh daily, never complain, and read her life theme book – “How to Live 365 Days a Year.”