AAWGA Loses Honorary Member Ruth Spangenberg

Obituary from Ann Arbor News (2009)

Ruth Boyd Spangenberg was born in New Bedford, MA and spent most of her young life in the New England area (Fairhaven MA, Wethers-field CT) before moving to the Ann Arbor area as a young adult. She is survived by her long time companion Bob Ohlsson, her adopted family the Ohlssons, her nieces, nephews, and their offspring of the Spangenberg family.

She was a camp counselor and member of a synchronized swimming team in her youth. She was a teacher before moving to Ann Arbor, once here, she worked for Chrysler and other organizations utilizing her skills in mathematics.

She is known by family and friends as being one that always remembered birthdays and holidays would mark the occasion by sending cards. Truly a woman of all seasons, she was ahead of her times in so many ways. She had been involved with computers all her life, so it was natural for her to take up the internet and email as it became available. She was passionate in her hobbies of golf, antiquing, crafts, and origami and worked toward handing down the traditional knowledge of crocheting, knitting, and origami to others.

When growing up, none of her relatives suffered from cold heads or hands as Christmas brought fabulous Norwegian type mittens and hats and the most exquisite hand made doll clothes you could ever imagine. In more recent years Christmases were filled with origami, you could always tell where she had been from the paper trail.

Even after her health did not permit her to get out on the golf course – she remained a Member of the U of M Women’s Golf Club as well as the 18 hole handicap Chairperson, she also held the distinct role as an Honorary Member of the Ann Arbor Women’s Golf Association. Additionally, she was a member of a Japanese Discussion Group where she made friends and enjoyed learning how to read and write Japanese.

She is greatly missed, and the families ask that you join us in a celebration of her life to be held at her long-time church, St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 306 N. Division St. Ann Arbor, MI on Friday, January 9, 2009 at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718. Arrangements entrusted to Muehlig Funeral Chapel, Ann Arbor.

[AAWGA donated $50 to the American Cancer Society in memory of Ruth.]

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