Ruth Merlo Kunze

Ruth Merlo Kunze passed peacefully at home on Sunday, November 21st , surrounded by her loved ones, in Austin, TX. Ruth was born January 2, 1930 to William & Addie Lee Scroggins near Hempstead, Texas, the sixth of seven children.

Ruth married Jimmy Merlo in 1946 and lived in Austin until he retired and they moved to Dripping Springs. She was a homemaker and took great pride in her children, family and community. She spent many years volunteering for South Austin Hospital and when she could no longer make the rounds there she began sewing heart-shaped pillows at home for cardiac and breast cancer patients. Ruth married Eldrich Kunze in 2002 and spent the last years of her life in the Driftwood area. Ruth is greatly loved by her family and friends and will be deeply missed.

Ruth is predeceased by her parents, husband Jimmy, brothers Jack & Harold, and sister Lois Bell.

She is survived by her husband, Eldrich; her sisters, Verna Gyger, and Edith Shipley; brother, Charles Scroggins; children, Pat London, Mike Merlo, Chuck Merlo and Cheri Rowden. Ruth especially doted on her grandchildren, Danica Tucker, Tom Bulla, Jason Merlo, Brian Merlo, Dustin Rowden, and Lauren Rowden; and great grandchildren, Sydney Tucker, Micaela Tucker, Shaylyn Bulla, Brady Bulla, and Teyton Rowden.

Visitation will be held on Monday, November 22 from 6 - 8 p.m. at Weed-Corley-Fish, 2620 South Congress Ave. Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 23 at Weed-Corley-Fish, burial to follow at Assumption Cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers will be Tom Bulla, Jason Merlo, Brian Merlo, Dustin Rowden, Ed Gyger and Howard London.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to American Diabetes Association, 2499 Capital of Tx Hwy, Ste A204, Austin, Texas 78745, (512) 472-9838.