Edna Ruth Quaintance

Ruth Hartung Quaintance, born in Roanoke, Virginia, October 15, 1921, was a true believer in the Christian faith and the Holy Trinity. Fueled by these beliefs, she entered the Kingdom of Heaven following her death on May 26, 2016.

Her beloved parents John Frederick Hartung and Bertie Turner Hartung raised her in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, where she was salutatorian of her senior class. In 1943 she graduated from Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin, the town where she met her devoted and cherished husband Arthur C. Quaintance, a Chicagoan. They celebrated 59 anniversaries together before Art’s death in 2002.

After moving to Houston where Art worked for Missouri Pacific Railroad, the two were stalwart members and volunteers in many Houston churches, beginning with long service to the Church of the Redeemer Episcopal in the East End. Their spiritual journey took them to St Matthew’s Episcopal, Advent Episcopal, Tri-City Church, and New Song. Ruth was a proud member of the Daughters of the King, served in many vestry and altar guild positions, and was active in Bible-study groups and a hospital visits ministry. Her last dear church family was Pilgrim Lutheran near her home in Westbury. Ruth was a lifelong evangelist who shared the power of prayer and good deeds, both given and received, with members of all these churches and her larger neighborhood.

Art and Ruth also enjoyed a secular passion: baseball. The connection began with attending the East End Little League games played by their son Alan. Pony League followed, and Art eventually became a national board member of the organization with Ruth always at his side helping organize tournaments and beaming with pride. She followed Houston professional ball teams from the git-go: the Houston Buffs, Colt 45’s, and the Astros. While attending thousands of games, she always kept score in an oversized Scoremaster scorebook. A lifelong dream to see the Astros play in a World Series was fulfilled when she attended the two games with the Chicago White Sox at Minute Maid in 2005.

As her three children Carole Anne, Alan Charles, and Donald Arthur grew up, Ruth discovered her true calling somewhat by accident. From 1959 to 1964 to supplement the family income, she did substitute teaching at Houston ISD. In 1964 she became a fulltime English teacher. She taught major works English at Jesse Jones High School (1964–69) and then later at Westbury High School (1969–78). Far beyond grammar and literature, “Mrs. Quaintance” inspired and nurtured a generation of youngsters. The success of her teaching came back to her in later years through the personal testimony of former students. Following retirement from teaching, she worked in personnel for five years at M.W. Kellogg.

Ruth is survived by her daughter Carole and husband Bobby Agiannidis, son Alan and wife Susan Quaintance, and son Don Quaintance. The joy of Ruth’s life were her five grandchildren Alan Quaintance Jr., Deborah Lindstrom, Troy Rodriguez, Kelli Watson, and Michael Agiannidis, and their spouses; and her nine great grandchildren Cooper, Connor, Gray, and Tanner Watson; Zackary, Justin, Jonathan, and Kimberlee Lindstrom; and Greyson Rodriguez. Along the way, Linda Chambers became Art and Ruth’s “adopted” daughter and spiritual soul mate, and she continues to be a blessing to the entire family.

The family wishes to thank caregiver Lequisha Kelly, the wonderful staff of Clarewood House, and the ennobling nurses and doctors of Houston Hospice. Please do not send flowers. Instead, any donations in Ruth’s memory should be contributed to the Pilgrim Memorial Fund, Pilgrim Lutheran Church, 8601 Chimney Rock, Houston, TX 77096.

Funeral services, with Pastors Josh Duffy and Wayne Graumann officiating, will be held at Pilgrim at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 31, with a reception following.