Ruth Stevens

Ruth Stevens passed away peacefully in her home with her daughter, Pat, son-in-law, Allen, and friends by her side on June 2, 2013. She was born the daughter of Otto and Martha Guddat Schulz on August 13, 1932 in Memel, Germany, a small city renamed Klaipeda in what is now Lithuania, situated at the mouth of the Dane River where it flows into the Baltic Sea. Her favorite childhood memories are of paddling in the Baltic Sea. During WWII, Ruth narrowly escaped from Germany with her family when the Russians invaded. In 1954, Ruth moved to New York. She was very proud of becoming a U. S. citizen. Ruth moved to Albuquerque in 1974 where she met and married Colonel John Stevens, USMC. They were both actively involved in the Officer's Club functions on Kirtland Air Force Base. Until recently, she never missed meeting her friends for weekly exercise at the Sandia Base Pool. Ruth is survived by her children Patricia (Allen) Erwin, John (Peggy) Stevens; grandchildren LaRena Sartin, John (Nikki) Stevens, Jeff (Allison) Stevens, Scott (Maria) Stevens; great-grandchildren Loren Jada Sartin, Logan, Sydney, Olive, Jake, Axl, and John Stevens, sister Hannelore (Karl-Heinz) Weber, brother Wilfried Schulz; and numerous nephews and nieces. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; her husband John W. Stevens, II; daughter Margaret Sartin; and sister Christl Forbus. She will be remembered as a courageous, proud patriot and a spunky, humorous, loving mother and grandmother. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at FRENCH-Lomas. Graveside services and burial will be at 2:15 p.m. at Santa Fe National Cemetery, 501 N. Guadalupe St., Santa Fe, NM.