Ruth White

MORTON – On May 25, 2023, Ruth Mildred Augsburger White passed peacefully into the Lord’s presence at her home surrounded by loving family members. Ruth was born September 23, 1922, in Morton, IL, the daughter of Henry Jey and Lillian (Linn) Augsburger. With most of her family present, she celebrated her 100th birthday last September. Ruth was the tenth of eleven children. On June 2, 1945, she married Thomas John (T.J.) White of Blue Ridge, GA, in Memphis, TN, both serving in the military in World War II, T.J. in the Army and Ruth in the Women’s Army Corps.

In their first years of marriage after World War II, T.J. built a home on property next to his parents and he and Ruth lived there until the birth of their first son, Richard. T.J. sought employment at Caterpillar Tractor Company in East Peoria, IL, and they moved to the Peoria area for several years, moving frequently as their family grew with the birth of David, Carol and Jill, eventually settling in Morton, IL. Following T.J.’s retirement from Caterpillar in 1978, they returned to Blue Ridge, GA, building a new home on the same property they had formerly owned. While living in Blue Ridge, they were members of Temple Baptist Church. Ruth taught Sunday School, helped with Vacation Bible School, sang in the choir, and was involved in the women’s ministry. In 2005, they returned to the Peoria area to be closer to family. Throughout her life, Ruth’s greatest joys were her children and grandchildren. As well, Ruth loved to sew and made many quilts by hand, gifting her family and friends with her works of art. She also enjoyed reading and crossword puzzles in her spare time. In 2021, Ruth joined her daughter, Carol, and her son-in-law, Jay, at their home near Mountain Grove, MO.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, T.J. White in 2009, her parents, an infant daughter, a daughter-in-law, Connie (West) White and her ten siblings, Viola (John) Burns, Helen (Marion) Decker, Marvine (Orville) Davis, Mary (Ezra) Rediger, William (Marie) Augsburger, Esther (Ray) Sheppleman, Ralph (Olene) Augsburger, James (Lucille) Augsburger, Henry Jr., and Richard (Lucille) Augsburger. Ruth is survived by her four children, Richard (Anitra) White of Fullerton, CA; David (Elizabeth) White of Mountain Home, AR; Carol (Jay) Manthey of Mountain Grove, MO; and Jill (Larry) Couch of Middle Amana, IA; sixteen grandchildren and step grandchildren, Diana (Alastair) Dawson, Ryan White, Adam (Tina) Johnson, Joree (Ernie) Alfonso, Kristine (Matthew) Sutton, D. Joshua (Jennifer) White, Rachel Sherrill, Lauren Turpin, Christopher Turpin, Chad Gatlin, Erika (Josh) Thurman, Michael (Holly) Manthey, Jason (Gwen) Manthey, Nathan Couch, Anna (Jeff) Kodis, and Leah (David) Davenport; and many great- and great-great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 3, 2023, at Knapp-Johnson Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Morton, IL. Visitation will be at 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will be at Hirstein Cemetery in Morton, IL.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Temple Baptist Church, 28 High Country Crossing, Morganton, GA 30560. Please add “In memory of Ruth White” on the memo line.

Knapp-Johnson Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Morton is handling arrangements.

To leave an online condolence for the family, visit www.knappjohnson.com.