Ruth Dunleavy

  Ruth Kathryn Hutchins was born August 15th, 1921 on a farm near Rippey, Iowa.  She was the daughter of Charles S. and Elizabeth S. (Powers) Hutchins.  She attended eight years of country school and graduated from high school at Beaver, Iowa with the class of 1939.  She stayed at home for one year to help on her parents’ farm.  Then she went to Des Moines and enrolled in Business College (AIB).  After graduation she worked in Des Moines for several years.

Ruth lost her first husband in active combat duty in Germany in World War II.  She later married Charles H. (Chuck) Newhouse in Des Moines where they were both employed.

  In 1950, Ruth, Chuck and their 6 month old son Larry moved back to her family farm near Rippey to assist her father who was farming alone.  They added two more sons to their family and farmed there for 32 years, while acquiring more land.

  Ruth enjoyed being outdoors, especially gardening and raising chickens.  She soon became active in the community.  She was a Cub Scout den mother and a member of the Rebekah and Eastern Star Lodges in Rippey.  She also assisted in Sunday school at the First United Methodist church where all the Newhouse family were members.  She enjoyed attending and hosting the neighborhood lady’s morning coffee parties with all their little ones.

  Ruth and Chuck both loved bowling and for many years bowled in leagues and tournaments.  They loved family bowling also.  They were active in their sons’ social, school and college activities.

  In 1981 they moved to Ames, Iowa to be near family.  It also allowed Chuck to be near his work as an auditor for the Department of Transportation in Ames.  They resumed their bowling, Ruth delivered meals on wheels, joined a quilting club and became a family babysitter.

  Chuck passed away in 1988 and Ruth later married a friend, retired professor John M. Dunleavy of Iowa State College.  They took many bus trips, toured our national parks and visited Alaska.  They moved into Waterford assisted living (now Independence Village) in Ames and John passed away in 2016.  Ruth passed away in 2024 at the age of 102.

 Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, an infant brother and infant grandson, Steven Allen Newhouse and her husband’s William Wahrer, Charles Newhouse and John Dunleavy.  She is survived by her three sons, Larry D. Newhouse (Cheryl), David L. Newhouse both of Ames, James A. Newhouse (Debbie) of Hudson IA, six grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

Ruth passed away on Thursday, June 13, 2024, at Israel Family Hospice House in Ames, Iowa.  A private family graveside ceremony will be held at a later date.  She will be laid to rest next to her husband Charles H. Newhouse in the Beaver Cemetery, at Beaver Iowa.  She will be greatly missed by her loving family.  For online obituaries and condolences, please visit: www.carsonstappfuneralhome.com

 Memorial cards may be mailed to: Larry Newhouse at 1607 Johnson Street, Ames, Iowa 50010.  Floral offerings may be sent to Independence Village Ames at 1325 Coconino Road, Ames, Iowa 50014, in memory of Ruth.