Ruth Stauffer

Ruth Granger Stauffer, 86, long-time community volunteer and leader, and a homemaker, died March 31, 2013, at her home in Topeka. She had Parkinson's disease.

One of four children, Mabel Ruth Granger was born in Emporia, Dec. 4, 1926, to Wayne and Mabel Granger. After graduating from Emporia High School, Ruth attended Monticello Girls' School near St. Louis a year and transferring to University of Kansas in 1945, where she joined Pi Beta Phi Sorority. She and John Stauffer met at KU and were married June 3, 1950, a year after their graduation. They lived in Topeka.

During John's service in Korea, Ruth lived in Emporia, where she worked for the Emporia Gazette. After John's service, the couple moved back Topeka, then Newton, before settling in Kansas City from 1957-1972. In Kansas City, Ruth was a director of the Florence Crittenton Home and Planned Parenthood.

Ruth and John moved to Topeka in 1972, where she served on the Pi Beta Phi Foundation in several roles, including as the scholarship chairperson on the Alumni Advisory Committee at the University of Kansas and as the president of the House Corporation at KU. Ruth also was the president of the Topeka Youth Project, a director of the Ronald McDonald House, a director of the Mulvane Art Museum, the president of Friends of Cedar Crest, a director of the KU Natural History Museum, a director of the Kansas International Museum (Treasures of Czars), and the chair of the area Rhodes Scholar Selection Committee for seven years. She was a member of PEO, Knollwood Garden Club, co-chair of Stormont Vail Hospital Auxiliary, and past president of Western Sorosis.

Ruth was inducted in the Crittenton Home Hall of Fame in 1993, and received the Washburn University's President's Award in 1995, Topeka Civic Theatre's Waldo Heywood Award in 1995, and City of Topeka Service Award in 1996.

In 1995, she established a scholarship for single mothers through the Washburn Women's Alliance, a cause about which she felt strongly. She co-directed a five million dollar fund drive for the Topeka Civic Theatre and Academy in 1997.

Ruth was an active member and elder at First Presbyterian Church in Topeka. She volunteered with United Way campaigns, political campaigns, charitable events, and delivered Meals On Wheels for many years.

Ruth, a devoted mother who pushed her two sons and her daughter to be strong students, accomplished athletes and active community members, attended many football and basketball games and tennis matches. The Stauffers also traveled frequently to Estes Park, CO., and other destinations for family vacations. Ruth and John enjoyed international travel.

Ruth is survived by her husband of 62 years, John; their three children, John Stauffer Jr. of Olathe, Bill Stauffer of Lawrence, and Mary Brownback of Topeka; a sister, Margaret Robinson of Parkville, MO; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Wayne Calvin Granger and Willis Arthur Granger.

Visitation will be held from 5 – 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, 2013, at Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel in Topeka. Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 3, 2013, at First Presbyterian Church in Topeka. A private family entombment will be at Mount Hope Mausoleum.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Washburn University Fdn., 1729 SW MacVicar Ave., Topeka, KS 66604-3128, Stauffer Fund for Journalism Students, c/o KU Endowment Assn., PO Box 928, Lawrence, KS 66044-0928, or First Presbyterian Church, 817 SW Harrison, Topeka, KS 66612.