Ruth was my wonderful 2nd grace teacher at Tucker Capps - she was sweet and encouraged us to love one another.

My deepest condolences to the Lanning family. I was a friend of Susan's many years ago. So sorry for your loss.

Steve and Susan...please accept my heartfelt sympathy on the loss of your beloved Ruth.

My sympathy to Mrs. Lanning's family. What a wonderful person and awe-inspiring teacher she was. I had her as a teacher in second grade back in 1969. She certainly put me on the right track. Her energy and dedication has left an impression.

Memories with Grandma
- Going to Cass Railways and riding the train
- She would always come to our soccer games and cheer even if we were getting our butts kicked
- She would host a family gathering where we would cook oysters
- She would have Christmas dinner and cook so much good food
- Going with grandma, Judith, and Austin to the Lions Bridge to feed the ducks/geese
- Just going over to her house to chat/catch up and bringing whylie (our dog) which would brighten up her day
-   When our skateboard ramps got ran over by a car in our neighborhood, grandma from out of the blue came over with a brand new set of skateboard ramps

memories of grandma
well first of all, even though there are endless memories that i have with grandma, here are a select few that i remember the most about her. 
I always remembered grandma taking us on many trips, but one of the ones that is most memorable for me was our trip to cass railroad in which both grandma and grandpa allowed us to stay in a small little cottage with them and then on the next day we were able to ride the railroad with them up the mountain. It was a nice way of getting in tact with nature with them and it was a nice way of discovering what a classic train ride was like.
Another thing that grandma always used to do was to offer almost every time she could to take us out to lunch so we could communicate and see what was going on in each other's lives. she would always ask us when we could do something together when we were available because she cared so much about what was happening to us and what was going on in recent events
Grandma also liked to support my brother and i in every way she could in which she came to countless soccer games to show that she cared about what we did. I know she enjoyed it because she always asked about our playstyles and what we were thinking in the game afterward. Grandma also cared greatly about music and she came to every concert that we had and always asked about the music we were playing. whether it be saxophone with marching band, or bassoon in normal band, or past years when i played piano. she was always curious
Grandma always had nice gatherings at her house especially for christmas. it was a way of having the family all together at once and having a good time. 
On birthdays, grandma also made delicious gingerbread cookies that everyone thoroughly enjoyed. i'm pretty sure we had brawls for sharing the cookies too. they were really good
Puzzles were also a thing that my grandma enjoyed doing. I'm pretty sure she got me interested in puzzles in the first place. When we were young puzzles were always out on the table being worked on non stop
Also when we wanted to skateboard when we were younger she would always take us to the skatepark when we couldn't use our normal ramps when they broke. 
And i think what i remember the most about my grandma was the hugs she gave and the positivity that she gave off to others. When somebody was feeling down she was always willing to give hugs to others to make them feel better and always gave off a very positive presence. Not only that, grandma was always willing to put somebody else over her and cared for everybody around her to make them feel better.  And lastly, despite all the things that she faced, whether it be cancer or other obstacles in general, she was never willing to give up and did everything she could to make herself in the best condition possible. Even when i saw her on friday, and she knew what was going to happen to her, she stayed positive throughout her struggles and was happy to be with her family that she knew and loved and will always care for.
Austin

My memories of Grandma,

The earliest memory of Grandma was when we went to live with her during Desert Storm.
The things I remember most fondly are,

Filling up her bird feeders in the back yard. Playing hide and seek in the fig tree. Driving the barbie car. Walking to school and looking for frogs in the creek. Eating a toasted bagel with strawberry cream cheese and drinking hot chocolate with extra mini marshmellows before school. Also listening to NPR's Masterpiece Theater.
Going to the garden to pick vegetables.
Going to the Nature Museum.
Going on walks with her and Judith in the mornings before watching soaps and eating lunch.
She would give me jars to put fireflies in.
Tying the yellow ribbon around the front tree for Dad.
Making the welcome home sign for Dad that hung on the front of the house

In Alaska...

Driving around Mt. Denali National Park
Picking berries off the island
Taking long john silver on the china river
Eating the back porch

In Germany.
She picked apples with us
And visited the Heidelberg  Castle
Going down the Rhine River.

In Hawaii...

Giving her leis when they came to visit
Watching grandpa make red dirt shirts. Then she bleached it in the wash.
Going to the Dirty Bird
Going to Pearl Harbor. She cried there while we held hands. Teaching her how to make tea leaf leis. Going to the Dole Plantation Visiting the pineapple man Going to diamond head and king kahmehmehs museum and the palace Going to the tropical gardens

In Australia

She refused to let me watch Xena the Warrior Princess.
She insisted on walking us to the bus stop.
Came to my swim practices
Counted the gahlas together
Watched grandpa get dive bombed by magpies while trying to feed them pieces of leftover meat.
Went to the zoo

In Kansas

She came to my team "rodeo" to watch me barrel race. She met my boyfriend at the time Jeff.  They share a birthday. And we had a fantastic time during Christmas even when the dishwasher quit working

In Texas
She came down for my graduation and we went to the Habchie Grill on 50th that was so much fun. She was so wonderful during my wedding! That was a blast too!

When I was 5 months pregnant we went to the beach. She was so wonderful letting me cook  jamblaya. She made the corn bread. We cooked right along side each other. I truly loved that!

She drove the RV to the Evergreen house when Holden was just about a year. She loves him so much. We went up to mount Evans even though she got a bit nauseated we still had fun watching the wildlife.

The thing that touched me the most was the advice she and grandpa gave us at the wedding. She said that we would always stay married and in love if we would learn to do one thing. And that was to learn to forgive the little mistakes that we are bound to make. Steven and I follow that advice soundly every day.

Jenny

Dear Uncle Steve,Ruth,Susan and families, you are all in my thoughts and prayers. Everyone has my deepest sympathy.  I loved Aunt Evaleen's contagious laughter and her wonderful enthusiasm for life. She was a fine lady. She will be greatly missed by all her family and friends.  Love, Karen

I was blessed to have Mrs. Lanning as my second grade teacher at Tucker-Capps Elementary in Hampton. When I close my eyes, I can see the classroom so clearly...so calm and peaceful. A favorite memory... Mrs. Lanning would let us each take a turn and select a record to listen to after lunch each day. She had so many wonderful albums to choose from. I would always select 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea...it was my favorite. She knew it was my favorite, so she would let me hold the album and look at the cover as much as I wanted.  She would let us lay our heads on our tables and rest while we listened. She was so kind and gentle. Such a special teacher to her students.

Steve and Family,
Your in our thougths and prayers.Ruth will be missed by all that knew and loved her. She was for me such an encouraging,uplifting lady and great neighbor.Always so sweet to our children and grandchidren.I will miss our talks!

Linda and I would like to express our deepest sympathy to Steve and all the family. Ruth will be greatly missed.

Mr. Lanning, I am so sorry to hear about Mrs. Lanning, she was a great second grade teacher and a very nice neighbor.  My thoughts are with you and your family.

Dear Steve and Family;

My mother, Marilee, and I just wanted to let you know how very sorry we are to hear of Ruth's passing; she was a very dear woman, always smiling, sometimes chuckling at something funny she'd heard, always concerned about others.  Her kindness, her laughter  and her smile will be deeply missed in the neighborhood.  God bless you all.

I am deeply saddened at the loss of a dear and true friend.My thoughts and prayers are with all the family.Sharing in your sorrow and offering my deepest sympathy in the days ahead.

Dear Uncle Steve,Ruth,Susan and all the rest of the family.  I am sending you my deepest sympathy.  I am one of the only ones probably that still calls her Aunt Evaleen. Just like her my first name is Ruth too but I went by my middle name.  I was also named after her.  She was the glue that kept our family in touch with each other.  When my dad died and then my mom (her sister) she was there to get me through it.  I loved her dearly and will truly miss her. What a grand lady she was.  Love, Elaine

The family is in my thoughts and prayers! Grandma was a wonderful woman, always smiling and laughing offering big hugs whenever she walked in the room.  I feel very blessed to have had the privilege of sharing many special times with her and the family.  Lots of love always, Jessica

Steve,
Cheryl and I were deeply saddened at the loss of your wife. As neighbors on Bonifay Drive, we could always count on a friendly smile and a wave hello from Ruth, especially in the evenings when she came out to lower the flag in your front yard. Ruth was always kind to ask about our kids and what they were up to. She was a fine lady and will be missed by all in the neighborhood. Our sincere condolences at this sad time.

Ruth was a valued member at Hilton Presbyterian. Her warmth and kindness was an inspiration to all who knew her. She endured her illness with great courage and strength and has earned the peace in which she placed her faith.

I WISH TO EXPRESS MY SYMPATHY TO STEVE AND ALL OF THE FAMILY. RUTH WAS A DEAR FRIEND AND A WONDERFUL NEIGHBOR FOR 44 YEARS. SHE WILL BE GREATLY MISSED.

  As far back as I can remember, my Grandma, or Mamaw as I called her, would let me tussle up her hair when I gave her a hug. Apparently I used to do this out of pure curiosity when I was a little girl, and she was always good-humored enough to chuckle at it- even when I continued to do it all the way up until the last time I saw her about a month before she died. She always told me she loved me lots and made me feel like I was truly special to her. She and Grandpa came to countless orchestra concerts Bryan and I performed in, always supported our school fundraising efforts, and always brought fresh strawberries when they came to visit because she knew I loved them. When birthdays came in our house we knew a box of homemade gingerbread cookies would promptly arrive in the mail from Grandma. She even sent a box to me when I was all the way in Washington state serving in Americorps. I was so excited to receive those cookies that initially I hid from my teammates and ate three while sitting alone on my bed! Eventually I decided to share, and we were all in agreement that my Grandma made the best gingerbread cookies EVER. Christmases as a child at my grandparents' house were completely magical in my little eyes- my extended family would attend a Christmas Eve church service, usually with music directed by Grandma's dear friend Judith, and return to their house to feast on a table-full of delicious homemade food. We kept the slightly unusual tradition of exchanging gifts on Christmas Eve, and I so loved all the laughter and playfulness and love between us as we piled shredded wrapping paper around the room until it was time for bed.
   My Grandma was thoughtful, generous, at some times stoic, and above all very loving. I am so lucky to have had her in my life and will miss her very much.

Some more memories of Grandma:
-Thinking the little home she and Grandpa had set up in their RV was THE COOLEST thing, and loving riding in it during a family vacation in Alaska
-The little lamb she kept on the back of her arm chair in the living room that made a funny "baaaah" sound
-Hearing her sing next to me in church
-Her sweet potato casserole, which I try to make just about every Thanksgiving and Christmas but never quite seem to get "Grandma-good"
-Watching soap operas with Grandma and Judith while eating our lunch
-Walking barefoot in their garden and feeling the soft squishy soil between my toes

Audrey

Dear Ruth, John, Bryan and Audrey, what fond memories I have of "Grandma" on Lexington Ave.She was a warm,loving wonderful women...Her smile was certainly contagious and always a pleasure to sit and talk to while doing a jigsaw puzzle. You are all in my thoughts and prays.Love, Nancy

I express my sympathy to Steve and all family and friends of Ruth.  Steve was a member of my husband Carl Seewer's Spencerville, Ohio H.S. Class. All have continued sharing news throughout the years.  Carl (Red) died in April 2006.  
I'm sure sure there are many special memories
of Ruth.  Please know you have caring friends.

GRANDMA
I have so many memories of my Grandma.  Some memories are magnified by the hundreds of pictures in my photo albums that I will treasure forever.  But my favorite memories are the ones that need no pictures:  the memories that mean so much to me and have influenced my life: the stories that I have told and re-told so many times to so many people because of how proud I am that my family is full of amazing, caring, funny, loving people like Grandma.

For as long as I live, Christmas will be about gathering with our family at Grandpa and Grandma's house for a HUGE delicious dinner, caravanning to the church for Christmas Eve service, and returning to open presents, sing, laugh, and share each other's true happiness.  I remember watching Grandma sit in her chair, smiling for hours watching everyone open their gifts.  I can hear her laughing at gag gifts or gushing about how much she loved anything she received from her grandchildren.

I remember the smell of the fireplace in the cabin and going for long hikes on beautiful days.  Roasting marshmallows, popping corn, and chasing Rufus through the creek only to come inside for Grandma's sandwiches made just the way I liked them.

I may never go on a more amazing trip than the one I took with Grandma, Grandpa, and Ann from Charlottesville Virginia to Fairbanks Alaska and back.  If you ever want to know how much you truly love your family, spend 12,000 miles with them in a 30 foot RV!  We enjoyed the most beautiful places that our country (and Canada) had to offer and Grandma's TLC made me enjoy every second.

Grandma loved music, especially classical music, and she never missed one of my orchestra concerts.  There were times that I was embarrassed that I played the violin instead of drums or guitar or something "cool".  But seeing the look of pride on Grandma's face after I performed, I wouldn't have traded for anything.  I can remember seeing my grandparents cry twice in my entire life.  Once was at my Aunt Ann's funeral, but before that I watched them both shed a tear after I played my violin for the Christmas Eve service at their church.

For as long as I can remember, Grandma called me her handsome hulk but I believe it started when I began caring what girls thought of me.  This name was especially ironic because at that time I was about 5' 2" and 100 lbs.  But no matter what, it always made me smile!

More than anything, I loved Grandma's hugs.  From the days when I barely reached her waist, to the days when she barely reached mine, I never wanted her hugs to end.  Some people just have so much love inside of them that you can feel it.  Grandma had more than anyone, and she always let me know.  I will miss Grandma.  Her smile, her laugh, her cooking, her love, and mostly her hugs!

Bryan

OBITUARY

Ruth Evaleen Lanning

2 May, 1931 – 1 September, 2012

Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home & Memorial Park

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