Ruth Alice Buhl

She loved playing baseball (she was the captain of her team), her cat Brownie and fishing off the Lake Michigan pier with her dad. She maxed out her saxophone skills in high school but she loved studying to radio big band music and sang alto with her mom in her church choir.

Initially After 3 years at Owasso Bible College she then transferred to Greenville College in Illinois. Her elementary education degree with minor in sociology was sidelined by a tall, light blue-eyed charmer. A career as a pastor’s wife was not on her bucket list but W. Dale Buhl married a savvy, kind, intuitive, Christ believer partner on 8/25/1956.

Life milestones were measured by moves to different pastorates in the Free Methodist Church. First, to seminary in Willmore, Kentucky then on to Oneida, New York where they had a practice cat then their daughter Janette. Chittenango New York saw the birth of their son James (Jim). A new church was built in chilly Norwood New York with Ruth doing nurses aid work at a nearby hospital. Her kids were getting bigger in Fulton, New York but Ruth and Dale’s parents were getting older so they returned to Michigan and spent 9 years in Sparta Michigan. Ruth did several jobs including the middle school playground ‘bouncer’.

In the 1980’s, Dale and Ruth moved to Eastern Ave Church in Grand Rapids Michigan. As she was adapting to empty nesting, she also had to go through the pain of widowhood. She learned to drive again (there is a story with why she stopped), find a job, navigate the complexities of life without the one and only guy for her. She found satisfying jobs, drove safely enough and even got to visit her daughter in Rwanda, Africa.

Ultimately retiring from her job in the lab at one of the local hospitals, she had time for doting on her granddaughter Kimberly, enjoying visiting various parts of the country with her children, daughter in law Irene and of course, Kimberly.

In the last decade of her life she moved to Arizona to be with Janette then back again to Grand Rapids to be with Jim and Irene, when her dementia made it more difficult to navigate the complexities of life and health. Three years ago she was escorted at Kimberly’s wedding by her tall, blue eyed and charming grandson-in-law, Connor.

Her insightful wisdom, prayer warrior spirit, determination (or stubbornness per her children), sly humor, listening gifts and compassion are the memories we share. Enjoy your time with Jesus, Dale and all the others gone before you. We will see you there Grandma. Janette, James (Jim), Irene Buhl, Kimberly and Conner Ouwinga.

Visitation for Ruth will be held on Saturday April 16, 2022 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Reyers North Valley Chapel where a funeral service will immediately follow at 3:00 p.m. Private burial next to her one and only guy, Dale, will be in Spring Arbor Cemetery.