Ruth Ellen Schultz

July 23, 1926 – June 10, 2024

Ruth Ellen Schultz of Orlando, FL passed away peacefully on June 10, 2024. Ruth was born in St. Louis, Missouri on July 23, 1926 to parents Clarence J. Thurnau and Helen M Thurnau (Meier). She was a 1943 graduate of Cleveland High School in St. Louis.

After moving to Florida, she met her future husband Ewald (Wally) Schultz and they were married on January 31, 1953. They began married life in Dunedin, FL before moving to Plam Beach Gardens, FL

Over her many years Ruth had a variety of jobs, interests, and hobbies. She was devoted to raising her family and was always there when one of the boys had a school activity or a baseball game. Later in life she served her church as the church secretary at Nativity Lutheran Church in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. She loved making crafts and knitting both of which she did well in to her later years of life. Many family members need only look at their Christmas tree each year to see the extent of her craft making skills.

After retiring and moving to Orlando she became a faithful volunteer at Orlando Health Dr. Phillips hospital where she combined her love for serving others with her knitting skills to make caps and booties for the newborns. Her most challenging times came after retirement when her husband became partially disabled by a stroke. She spent many years as a loving caregiver for Wally.

A devoted wife, mother and grandmother, Ruth is survived by son Thomas (fiancé Barbara Fleming) of Eatonton, GA, son Donald (wife Lynelle) of Orlando, FL, granddaughter Morgan Flowers (husband Steven), great grandson Maxwell and great granddaughter Ella and granddaughter Brittney Stewart (husband Richard) and son Mark (wife Georgia) of Atlanta, GA, grandson Davis and granddaughter Addison. Ruth is preceded in death by her husband, Wally (March, 2015), by her brothers Donald (Peachtree City, GA) and Eugene Thurnau (Clearwater, FL) and daughter-in-law Pamela (Hunt) Schultz (son Thomas).

Services will be held at Florida National Cemetery on Monday, July 29 at 11 am. Burial will also be in the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL where her husband is buried.

In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations be made in Ruth’s name to a church or charity of your choice.