Ruth Clara Hummel (née Stevenson)
Ruth Hummel was called by her Savior Jesus into eternal glory on Feb. 3, 2023 at the age of 93 at Vista, CA where she resided and was lovingly cared for by the entire staff at Majella Assisted Living of Vista, CA. Ruth was the beloved wife for 68 years of the late Rev. Dr. Horace D. Hummel (d. Oct 2021). They were married Aug 1, 1953 at True Light Lutheran Church, New York, NY. Ruth was the loving mother of the late Joel (d. 2010) and Eve of Renton, WA.
The Holy Bible, New International Version
Revelation 14:13
Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”
“Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”
Ruth Clara Stevenson was born on June 9, 1929, in Kodaikanal, S. India, the second of eight children, to Esther (née Nagel) and Duncan S. Stevenson II (missionary to India). She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. She was a member of many Lutheran congregations and most recently Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Escondido, CA. Her unwavering faith in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was the foundation upon which she built her life.
She lived most of her early years in India and attended boarding school for missionary children in Kodaikanal. Having completed elementary education in May 1943 she made the month and a half voyage to USA with her sister Esther. After secondary education at Walton High School in New York, her education continued at Concordia Teachers College River Forest, Illinois (Bachelor of Science in education degree, 1951). She also went on to obtain Master degrees in religion, 1962 (Concordia Seminary, St. Louis Missouri), and education, 1981 (University of Missouri–St. Louis). In her life-long career in teaching young children, largely in Montessori education, as well as many years teaching Sunday school at local congregations she has impacted countless lives through her constant Christian witness. Notably, if there wasn’t a convenient school for her, she would start one herself, run it and teach in it. These schools were in Missouri, Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, New York and Massachusetts as well as Mannheim, Germany. Her career was supported by lifetime teaching certificates from Missouri and primary diploma from the American Montessori Society. Along with professional presentations at educational conferences and work in curriculum development her published works include Where Do Babies Come From?. Wonderfully Made, Little Martin Luther, among others.
She is survived by her daughter Eve Irene, sisters Esther Peterson, Muriel Rothenbush, Grace Brauer, Alice Brackensick and brother James Stevenson. She was preceded in death by husband Rev. Dr. Horace D. Hummel, her parents Duncan S. and Esther (née Nagel) Stevenson, son Joel James (Stephanie, née Hart), sister Elizabeth Bliese and brother Duncan S. Stevenson III. She is also survived by four grandsons: Joel Jr, Evan, Andrew and Richard; as well as four great-grandchildren: Grant, Willow, Julia and Gentry.
A memorial service will be held at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Escondido, CA at a date and time to be determined with availability on Zoom and YouTube and, at a still later date, another memorial service with internment at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Daykin, NE.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to The American Montessori Society, New York, NY, the National Audubon Society through any of the local chapters or Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Escondido, CA.
