Ruth Mcfarland

Ruth McFarland, 78, of Earlham died Friday, September 23, 2011at Iowa Methodist in Des Moines. A visitation with family present will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., Monday, September 26 at Ochiltree Funeral Service & Aftercare in Winterset. A private burial will be held in the Penn Center Cemetery. Memorials in her name may be directed to the family. On-line condolences may be made to the family at www.ochiltree.com. Ruth was born in Greenfield on October 11, 1932, the daughter of Henry Evander and Ola Faith (Merrill) Patterson. She attended school in Weldon and later married James Walter McFarland in Weldon at the Methodist Church on September 2, 1951. Ruth was a devoted wife and mother raising her children and supporting her husband all through her life. She loved genealogy, photography and was an excellent gardener both of vegetables and beautiful flowers. Ruth loved fall, as autumn was her favorite time of year and she loved going on long rides through the country side and collecting anything cardinals. Ruth is survived by her loving husband of 60 years, Jim of Earlham; her children, Cinda (David) Long of Creston; Jim (Oy) McFarland of Olympia, WA; Scott (Mary Lou) McFarland of Van Wert; Jo (Rich) Runnells of Albia; Melissa (Doug) Jaeger of Lamoni; Patrick McFarland of Earlham; 18 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are her siblings, Robert (Evelyn) Patterson of Buffalo, MO; Mary Patterson-Case of Lamoni; brothers and sisters-in-law, Roger (June) McFarland; David (Joy) McFarland; Linda Boord; Marie McFarland and Larry McFarland. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers-in-law, Doug, Don and Jack McFarland and a great-grandson, Charlie Hornback.