Ruth was born Sep. 18, 1917 in Fairfield, IL to John William and Ethel G. (Sons) Mauck and lived there from 1917 to 1931. She later graduated from Deland High School in Piatt County. She married Oral Gallagher on Jan. 17, 1938 in Davenport, IA and settled in the Peoria area the very next day. Oral operated a Sinclair gas station in Pottstown. Later they opened a new Sinclair station at 2511 W. Farmington Rd in Peoria. Oral died in 1964 and Ruth continued to own and operate the station for two more years until Sterling Ave. was extended form Nebraska and their home and station needed to be removed for the extension.
On June 17, 1967 Ruth married Chester Turner. She worked at Sterling Grade School as a lunch server until she was 82 years old. Ruth believed that staying active and working hard won’t kill you. After Chester’s death, she lived independently until she was 99 and drove a car until she was 95 years old. She especially enjoyed attending the First Baptist Church on West Lake and taking part in church activities.
She also liked watching the Bradley Braves, Chicago Cubs, and cooking and baking for family and friends.
Oral and Ruth had the pleasure of raising his niece Judy (Deimel) Fosco from the age of 6 and was blessed to still have her live nearby. She has also enjoyed many nieces and nephews and their families during her lifetime.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands, two brothers and six sisters.
Her philosophy that kept her going was that she could always look around and fine someone who was worse off than she was, so she tried to stay positive and keep doing what she could.
Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018 at the Davison-Fulton Woodland Chapel in Peoria. Funeral services will be Wednesday Oct. 3, 2018 at 10 a.m. at the funeral home.
Burial will be in Swan Lake Memory Gardens in Peoria.
Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.
You may view Ruth’s obituary online at www.davison-fulton.com
