Dear Friends and Family,
Ruth Rickers Klemmer died on April 6, 2018, at the age of 91, at her residence in Glenaire retirement community, Cary, NC.
Ruth Anna Emile Rickers was born August 29, 1926 in Rochester, NY to Johanna and Paul Rickers. Ruth graduated with honors from The University of Rochester earning a Bachelors of Science and went on to get her training as a certified Occupational Therapist from the University of Pennsylvania. She served in the U.S. Army as an occupational therapist, retiring at the rank of Captain in 1955.
Ruth met her husband, Edmund T. Klemmer, at Luther Place Memorial Church in Washington, DC while she was working at Walter Reed Army Hospital. Ruth and Edmund were married at Luther Place in June 1955. She enjoyed tennis, skiing and travelling as a family.
IWhile she retired from her professional career to care for her family, she kept abreast ofadvances in Occupational Therapy through volunteer work at Children's Hospital in Mountainside, NJ, Early Intervention Services, Holmdel, NJ. Throughout her life she served in many volunteer capacities including active participation in: several chapters of the League of Women Voters; the American Association of University Women Northern Monmouth County, NJ Branch; the Wake County, NC, Chapter of the United Nations Association; Friends of Residents in Long Term Care, at Springmoor Continuing Care Community; as well as many church boards and Parent Teacher Organizations.
Ruth was a Master Gardener whose green thumb propagated a great abundance of plants and cuttings that she enjoyed sharing. She enjoyed arts, crafts, sewing and needlework of all kinds, but she especially enjoyed painting and taking classes to improve her skills, so that she could capture the beauty around her.
Ruth was preceded in death by her brother Leslie Rickers, and her son, Paul Edmund Klemmer. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Edmund; daughter, Karen Klemmer Brown and her husband Sanford Brown of Bridgewater, NJ; granddaughter Kimberly Ruth Brown of Black Mountain, NC; grandson Daniel Walter Brown of Reston, VA; and grandson Keith Edmund Brown of Bridgewater, NJ.
A memorial service will be held on April 28, 2018 at 11am at Community United Church of Christ, 814 Dixie Trail, Raleigh, NC. All are welcome to a reception at the church following the service.
In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions to the "Citizen Education Foundation" of the League of Women Voters of North Carolina (mail to: LWVNC, Attn: Treasurer, PO Box 2231, Chapel Hill, NC 27515-2231) or to Community United Church of Christ.
Edmund Klemmer & Karen Klemmer Brown