Submitted by Dan Rich

Ruth E. Turnock

Sept. 23, 1915 - June 3, 2008

South Bend Tribune 6/5/2008
SOUTH BEND - Ruth E. Turnock, 92, went to join her beloved husband Ben on June 3, 2008. She was born September 23, 1915, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to Nettie (Reed) and Frank Borntrager. They then moved to Renssalear and finally to South Bend. She graduated from South Bend Central High School and went to work at the Grant Department Store. She and Ben were married in Holy Cross Church on July 29, 1939. She was known as his "million-dollar baby from the 5 and 10 cent store" and that was the song he always sang in the car. She and Ben lived in South Bend all their lives. Ruth retired from Huff's Pharmacy.

Ruth is survived by her daughters, Sue Murchison Pare of South Bend and Barb (Richard) Slabaugh of South Bend; sons, Dan (Bev) Turnock of Dale, IN, and Don (Marie) Turnock of Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Ruth and Ben had 11 grandchildren, Amy Mitchell, Stacey (Bob) West, Sharon (Mark) Mowery, David (Tina) Slabaugh, Patrick (Jeannie) Turnock, Kelly (Chad) Johnson, Colleen (David) Wasemann, Kathleen (Jason) Doan, Christine Turnock, Jennifer (Chad) Litzman and Heather (Devin) Mastrin. She was greatly loved by her great-grandchildren, Kym "Kymmie" Pennell-West, Kevin and Benjamin West, Colin and Kaitlin Mowery, Austin and Joshua Slabaugh, Lilly and Henry Wasemann, Karly and Abby Johnson, Olivia Doan, Chloe and Emma Litzman, and Kameron Mastrin. She is also survived by other special grandchildren, Bob, Melissa and Nicholas Swank, SueEllen and Jim Bowers, Bill and Glen Swank, who adopted her as "Great-Grandma Ruth." She was preceded in death by Ben, her husband of 47 years; a son, James; sons-in-law, Jerry Murchison and Howard Pare; a sister, Raphael (Ralph) Lehman; and brothers, Martin (Helen) Borntrager and Raymond (Edna) Borntrager. She was a charter member of Holy Cross Parish, Knights of Columbus #553 Wives, and the Battell Community Center. She and Ben spent their retirement summers at Camp Wildwood where they enjoyed fishing, playing cards and their many friends. In lieu of flowers, Ruth would like donations to Potawatomi Zoo, one of her favorite places to go on Mother's Day.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 6, 2008, in Holy Cross Catholic Church. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today in the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, where a parish Rosary will be prayed at 5 p.m. The family wishes to thank all the personnel on 11 South at Memorial Hospital for all of their excellent care and compassion.