Ruth Harmer

Ruth E. Harmer

Rural Carlisle

Ruth Harmer, age 86, went home to be with the Lord on April 18.

Ruth was born on February 14, 1926 to Charles and Lillian Dobson in Arispe, Iowa. She graduated high school in Arispe. After graduation, she moved to Des Moines where she worked at a dime store and later, the Des Moines Public Library. She married Leo Harmer on April 23, 1944. They first made their home in Des Moines where Leo owned an auto salvage on Army Post Road for 35 years before retirement. They enjoyed fishing, camping, and gardening together. In 1965 they built their dream home on 14 acres outside of Carlisle (Palmyra), where they raised their four children. Ruth loved to garden, can, bake, watch birds, mushroom hunt, attend church, read, watch her grandkids play sports and spending time with her family. She retired as a switchboard operator with the Air National Guard in 1990.

Survivors include daughters Kathy (Wayne) Collins of Pleasantville, IA, Karin (Charles) Billings of Liberty, MO, Laura (Mike) Nunez of Carlisle, IA, son Tim (Brenda) of Boone, IA, and honorary daughter, Vickie Till of Indianola, IA; ten grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Ruth is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, sisters Vivian Wilson and Esther Fluckey, and granddaughter Logan Nunez.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, April 22 from 3 to 5 p.m. at Middle River Friends Church of Carlisle (Palmyra). Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 23 at 11 am, also at Middle River Friends Church.

Burial will be at the Palmyra cemetery.

Memorials will be directed to the Logan Nunez Memorial Benefit Fund in Ruth's memory.