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Ruthanne Cooper Love, age 93, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, with her loving daughter at her side. Beloved wife of the late Bruce Webster Love; dear mother of John Love (Shannon), Carol Schwabe (Beau), and the late David Love (Janet); cherished grandmother of Kathryn, Mallory, Colleen, Elizabeth, Mikayla and Gabrielle; loving great grandmother of Evelyn (Evie); and dear sister of the late Barbara Strauss.
Ruthanne, the youngest of three girls, was born January 24, 1929, to Elmer and Lydia (Garver) Cooper of Strasburg, Ohio. Her oldest sister, Martha Louise, died at 18 months of age. She was very close to her sister Barbara, who passed away in 2017. Ruthanne grew up in Canton, Ohio, where she was valedictorian of Canton Lincoln High School. She attended the College of Wooster (Wooster, Ohio), where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and met Bruce Love. After graduating in 1950, Ruthanne and Bruce completed graduate programs at Northwestern University and the University of Kansas, respectively, and they married in 1952.
After their marriage, Ruthanne and Bruce lived in Slater, MO, where Bruce served as Assistant City Manager. Ruthanne became active in a women’s educational service organization, P.E.O.(HQ), and taught third grade. Throughout her life, many of her students continued to write to her. In 1961, Ruthanne and Bruce moved to Royal Oak Michigan, where Bruce was City Manager, and they raised their three children. Ruthanne devoted herself to her family and church life. She was a den mother for David and John’s cub scout troop, stressed academics, served as a Deacon at the First Presbyterian Church of Royal Oak, and continued her involvement in P.E.O.(AD). The Loves moved to Edmond, OK, in 1976, where Bruce became Director of Operations at the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center. Ruthanne supported Bruce as he sang for many years with the OKChorale men’s barbershop chorus. She immersed herself in school events for her children, church life, P.E.O.(ES), Cambridge Club, Phi Beta Kappa and the Edmond Book Club. Throughout their 65 years of marriage, Ruthanne and Bruce would enjoy summers at their cottage near Frankfort, MI.
Ruthanne was widely beloved and admired for her kindness and her welcoming and loving personality. She had a deep and genuine interest in people and was an avid correspondent. She was diligent about sending cards and notes to mark the birthdays and other life events of family and friends – always a kind, heartfelt message – an uplifting note, a condolence, a celebration. She loved watching sports, especially college football, Thunder basketball and Olympic events, particularly figure skating. She also loved listening to all kinds of music, especially barbershop, musicals, church choirs and instrumentals. In addition to spending time with family and close friends, she was a kindred spirit of nearly all animals. Bruce and Ruthanne’s dog “King” would sit outside her classroom window while she taught, and she walked her devoted dogs “Cindy” and later “Schatzi” through the neighborhood or the Michigan woods. Her sweet “Taffy” cat remained by her side following Bruce’s death. Whether bird or deer-watching from her sunroom windows, or doting her affections on cats and dogs alike, Ruthanne was a Love-ing soul through and through.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, November 14, 2022 at the First Presbyterian Church of Edmond, OK. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Cottey College: 1000 W. Austin Blvd, Nevada, MO 64772; cottey.edu/give or to Free To Live Animal Sanctuary: PO Box 5884, Edmond, OK 73083 freetoliveok.org/donate. Funeral arrangements by Matthews Funeral Home, Edmond, OK.
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