V. Ruth Brank

V. Ruth Brank, age 92, of Toledo and formerly of Dover, died Monday, December 26, 2016 in the Darlington Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Toledo, Ohio.

Ruth was born in New Philadelphia on December 17, 1924 to the late Aaron B. and Bessie L. (Gowins) Keffer.

Ruth wed her late husband, Rockwell S. Brank in the Church of the Nazarene on December 26, 1954. He preceded her in death in 2007.

Ruth graduated from New Philadelphia High School in 1942. She then continued her formal education obtaining her RN and Bachelor of Science degree, working as a nurse in Massillon Community and Union Hospitals during her professional career.

She greatly enjoyed gardening, baking bread, and participating in the Martha’s Quilter’s group that met on Tuesday mornings in the Gnadenhutten Moravian Church.

Ruth’s family includes her three daughters; Tricia Brank of Toledo, Ohio, Gwen (husband Walter) Welker of Akron, Ohio, and Stephanie (husband Roderick) Leupp of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; her sister-in-law, Carolyn Kohler of Findlay, Ohio. Two grandchildren, William Welker of Akron, and Emily Leupp of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; and nieces and nephew, Barbara Williams, Laurel Kerr, and Joel Ladd complete the family.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Rebecca Leupp; her brother, Richard (Carolyn Kohler) Keffer; and her sisters, Mary Jane Keffer and Anna Mae (Merrill) Ladd; and her nephew, Jeffory Ladd.

Friends are invited to call Thursday from 2 to 3 p.m. in the First Church of the Nazarene, where a service will begin at 3 p.m. Cremation will follow with burial in Evergreen Burial Park at a later date. Those unable to attend are invited to send condolences to the family by visiting the funeral home’s website.