Ruth Marie Eaton

Ruth Marie Eaton was born October 6, 1922 in Norfolk, NE, to Robert and Bertha (Henderson) Olds. She grew up on a farm outside of Rushville, NE & attended a 1 room country grade school. She then attended Rushville High School, graduating in 1940.

Shortly after graduation, she married Albert (Abe) Eaton and they joined her parents on the farm. To this union, 2 children were born, Margaret, in 1941 and Lyle in 1946.

When Abe was drafted into the military, Ruth moved several times with her husband, while he was in the Army Air Corps. Upon Abe’s discharge, they moved back to Rushville, where they bought the farm from her parents. In 1966, they sold the farm and moved to Avenal CA, where her sister Elsie lived (Ruth planned to be warm in the winter for the first time in her life). Here she went to a community college taking accounting and business classes. After 2 years, she and Abe moved to San Jose, CA to be close to their son, Lyle, and his family. After Abe’s death in 1973, Ruth went to work at the First National Bank of San Jose, which later became Bank of the West. She retired from the bank in 1988, after 15 years in the commercial loan department. She loved her work and her customers. They also loved her and hated to see her retire.

After retirement, Ruth kept herself busy volunteering at a large hospital 2 days a week, visiting and taking short day trips with friends and driving to Morro Bay, CA to see her sister. In 1990, Ruth moved to St Charles, IL to be close to her daughter Margaret and her family. It was here where her social life picked up. Ruth joined 2 very active senior groups, playing cards 1-2 days per week, joining a line dancing group, volunteering in a hospice office, going out for lunches and day trips. She loved bus trips and visiting her son, Lyle, in Atlanta and returning to CA to visit friends and relatives. In 1999, when Margaret and her husband Whitey moved Ogallala, NE, Ruth followed a year later. She again picked up her social life through the Senior Center, playing cards and joining a senior exercise group.

Over the years Ruth loved knitting, playing cards, line dancing and her lifetime passion, baseball. Ruth joined her daughter and husband on many trips to CA, GA, AZ, etc. She loved traveling. In recent years, her health deteriorated and this August, she gave up her apartment and moved in with her daughter.

Ruth is survived by her daughter, Margaret (Maggie) Cutkosky and husband Whitey of Ogallala, NE, son, Lyle Eaton and wife Joan of Alpharetta GA, 6 grandchildren David Cutkosky (Yvonne) of St. Charles, IL, Lori Rodriguez of Tracy, CA, Gary Cutkosky (Carol) of Canton, GA, Connie Eldridge (James) of Suwanee, GA, Lance Eaton (Diane) of Manteca, CA, surrogate grandson Craig Hill (Bonita) of Aurora, IL, 7 Great-grand children, numerous nephews, nieces and a host of friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Abe, parents Robert & Bertha Olds, sister, Elsie Smith, several brothers & sisters in law.
Memorials have been established to the Keith County Senior Center & the United Methodist Church in Rushville, NE.

Burial will be in the Fairview Cemetery at Rushville, NE.

Gubser Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements in Ogallala, NE. Chamberlain Funeral Chapel in Chadron, NE is in charge of arrangements in Chadron and Rushville.