Obituary for Ruth Marie Alber (Weisenberger)
Ruth Marie was born on November 14, 1926, to Grace Helen (Walker) and Walter Valentine Weisenberger in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her mother had tuberculosis and passed away in a sanatorium on April 27, 1929, when Ruth was not quite three. Walter married Ruth Elizabeth (Thorne) who raised young Ruth as her own. Sister Nancy Esther was born in 1936. Walter established industrial arts and woodworking shops in high schools so the family moved frequently-Charlevoix, Pontiac, and Detroit, Michigan; sometimes returning to a previous city. They lived in Charlevoix during Ruth’s second or third grade years. Ruth used to time her crossing of the draw bridge to when the bridge was up. She was late to school several days before her teacher and parents caught on. In 1945, they moved to Marion, Indiana, the second semester of Ruth’s senior year in high school. Marion High School almost didn’t permit Ruth to graduate as the Michigan requirements were different from Indiana’s. The Phillip Alber family, with son Charles, lived across the street. They met at the Marion Friends Church, worked together at the JC Penney store, and started courting. They married June 9, 1946, a week after Charles’ college graduation and celebrated 73 and a half years of marriage before Charles passed away January 27, 2020. Elizabeth Lee was born in 1947, James Charles, age 6, was adopted in 1951, and David Bruce was born in 1952. Jim passed away August 25, 2020.
Instead of college, Ruth wanted to go to nursing school. The program she wanted to enroll in closed at the end of the war. But Ruth was active in other ways: motherhood, church life, YWCA board member, gardening and canning. As a YWCA board member, Ruth raised enough money to add a cabin to Camp Sing-A-Long. In 1957, Ruth and Charles answered a call to work at a Friends’ mission in Kaimosi, Kenya, for four years. While Charles taught at the men’s teacher training school and ran the printing press, Ruth managed the household, was the mission director’s secretary, ran the women’s teacher training school canteen, taught classes on child care and how to manage a house (housewifery), and at different times, cared for three Kenyan babies. She also observed some surgeries at the mission hospital further whetting her nursing desires.
When the family returned to the states in 1961, Ruth enrolled in a nursing program. She took two city buses to class and to Methodist Hospital every day. She earned an LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) in 1964. Although she was one of the oldest, she was the top student in her class. She worked eight years as a visiting nurse and 19 years as a school nurse for Decatur Township. After she retired, she volunteered at the St. Thomas More’s Free Medical Clinic in Mooresville where she took patient history, blood pressure and weight, found donated needed items such diabetes supplies, medicines, and canes, and kept the coffee pot full.
Ruth and Charles believed in tithing their time as well as their money. In addition to their four years in Kenya, they delivered Meals on Wheels, took elders grocery shopping, and bagged food for the food pantry. Based on their time in Kenya, Ruth gave many talks to Friends women’s groups about her life there and the Kenyan women’s lives. Both were active in their local meeting and in Friends’ work nationally and internationally. Quaker Haven meant a lot to both of them. They served as counselors and as directors several years. Ruth was very active in the United Society of Friends Women both at West Newton and Western Yearly Meeting. She served as Western Yearly Meeting USFW president for six years. She also served on the Outreach Board, Nominating Committee, and Executive Council for several years for Western Yearly Meeting. For West Newton, Ruth served on Ministry and Council, and as USFW President.
Ruth and Charles loved to travel. They visited six continents and 53 countries. They especially enjoyed going by freighter where they could stay in port more than one day and get to know the ship’s officers.
Ruth and Charles have two children Beth (Loring) Prosser and David (Mary) Alber; five grandchildren: Julia (James) Rose, Rebecca (Lauren Parker) Prosser, Matt (Colleen) Alber, Greg (Amy) Alber, and Amanda (Jonathan) McGuire; 13 great-grandchildren: William, Theo, Mackenzie, Madison, Collin, Cooper, Jacob, Phillip, Regan, Ryan, Reston, David, and Conor; and one sister, Nancy Neher. Ruth is preceded in death by both of her parents; her husband, Charles William Alber; and one son, James Charles Alber.
Ruth was known for her integrity, work ethic, faith, and her commitment to family, friends, and community. She will be missed.
Family and friends may show their love and support during a memorial service that will be held at West Newton Friends Meeting on Saturday, February 19 at 2PM with visitation starting at 1 PM. Masks recommended. Cremation arrangements have been entrusted to Jones Family Mortuary in Mooresville.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Ruth's memory to West Newton Friends Meeting, 6800 Mooresville Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46221 or to Friends United Meeting,101 Quaker Hill Dr, Richmond, IN 47374
To send a condolence to the family or to share a story about Ruth, please visit: www.jonesfamilymortuary.com
Instead of college, Ruth wanted to go to nursing school. The program she wanted to enroll in closed at the end of the war. But Ruth was active in other ways: motherhood, church life, YWCA board member, gardening and canning. As a YWCA board member, Ruth raised enough money to add a cabin to Camp Sing-A-Long. In 1957, Ruth and Charles answered a call to work at a Friends’ mission in Kaimosi, Kenya, for four years. While Charles taught at the men’s teacher training school and ran the printing press, Ruth managed the household, was the mission director’s secretary, ran the women’s teacher training school canteen, taught classes on child care and how to manage a house (housewifery), and at different times, cared for three Kenyan babies. She also observed some surgeries at the mission hospital further whetting her nursing desires.
When the family returned to the states in 1961, Ruth enrolled in a nursing program. She took two city buses to class and to Methodist Hospital every day. She earned an LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) in 1964. Although she was one of the oldest, she was the top student in her class. She worked eight years as a visiting nurse and 19 years as a school nurse for Decatur Township. After she retired, she volunteered at the St. Thomas More’s Free Medical Clinic in Mooresville where she took patient history, blood pressure and weight, found donated needed items such diabetes supplies, medicines, and canes, and kept the coffee pot full.
Ruth and Charles believed in tithing their time as well as their money. In addition to their four years in Kenya, they delivered Meals on Wheels, took elders grocery shopping, and bagged food for the food pantry. Based on their time in Kenya, Ruth gave many talks to Friends women’s groups about her life there and the Kenyan women’s lives. Both were active in their local meeting and in Friends’ work nationally and internationally. Quaker Haven meant a lot to both of them. They served as counselors and as directors several years. Ruth was very active in the United Society of Friends Women both at West Newton and Western Yearly Meeting. She served as Western Yearly Meeting USFW president for six years. She also served on the Outreach Board, Nominating Committee, and Executive Council for several years for Western Yearly Meeting. For West Newton, Ruth served on Ministry and Council, and as USFW President.
Ruth and Charles loved to travel. They visited six continents and 53 countries. They especially enjoyed going by freighter where they could stay in port more than one day and get to know the ship’s officers.
Ruth and Charles have two children Beth (Loring) Prosser and David (Mary) Alber; five grandchildren: Julia (James) Rose, Rebecca (Lauren Parker) Prosser, Matt (Colleen) Alber, Greg (Amy) Alber, and Amanda (Jonathan) McGuire; 13 great-grandchildren: William, Theo, Mackenzie, Madison, Collin, Cooper, Jacob, Phillip, Regan, Ryan, Reston, David, and Conor; and one sister, Nancy Neher. Ruth is preceded in death by both of her parents; her husband, Charles William Alber; and one son, James Charles Alber.
Ruth was known for her integrity, work ethic, faith, and her commitment to family, friends, and community. She will be missed.
Family and friends may show their love and support during a memorial service that will be held at West Newton Friends Meeting on Saturday, February 19 at 2PM with visitation starting at 1 PM. Masks recommended. Cremation arrangements have been entrusted to Jones Family Mortuary in Mooresville.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Ruth's memory to West Newton Friends Meeting, 6800 Mooresville Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46221 or to Friends United Meeting,101 Quaker Hill Dr, Richmond, IN 47374
To send a condolence to the family or to share a story about Ruth, please visit: www.jonesfamilymortuary.com