RUTH VIRDA BURKE CLARKE (ARMSTRONG)

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RUTH VIRDA BURKE CLARKE (nee ARMSTRONG) March 15, 1912 - May 24, 2010 The Clarke and Batzel families announce with sadness the death of their matriarch, Ruth Clarke, at Lions Personal Care Centre, Winnipeg, on May 24, 2010. While her body had increasingly failed her in her last few years, her mind was alert to the end. Ruth was the youngest child of (Rev.) Rupert Armstrong and Annie Burke, transplanted Nova Scotians. She grew up in Methodist and United Church manses in Manitoba and N.W. Ontario. High Bluff, MB made a particular impression. She had total recall of the town layout and everyone who had lived there. It became a family joke that so many people whose names came up in various contexts came from (tiny) High Bluff or had connections' there. Ruth's memory for connections was phenomenal. She continued her nomadic pattern of life after her marriage in 1938 to George (Bill) Clarke when Bank of Montreal premises replaced manses in several towns in Saskatchewan and Manitoba until their final posting in Lethbridge, AB. There they retired and were active in McKillop United Church, in the arts community, in volunteer activities in many organizations and they enjoyed a lively social life with a large group of friends. Ruth was a graduate of the class of 1931 of United College (now U. of W.), part of a close knit group of classmates who became life long friends. Many lived well into their 90s. Like so many groups she was part of, Ruth is the last to go. At college she played basketball for both United and U. of M. From 1932 to 1938 she taught high school in Glenboro, MB where the Hames family made her part of their family. Music was a focus of Ruth's life from an early age. As a young child she was entrusted to the care of the conductor as she took the train from High Bluff to Winnipeg for piano lessons. By age 15 she had earned her A.R.T.C. Whatever community she lived in, Ruth's skills as an accompanist were called upon for music festivals, choirs, school musicals, family musicales, party sing songs, etc. One of Brenda's early memories is of tiny Limerick, SK. The piano could not be got into the bank suite so was housed for a time in the local hotel / beer parlor. Sunday afternoons, strains of Bach, Chopin, Liszt, Beethoven, Grieg could be heard in the street, perhaps to the astonishment of the residents. A week before her death, in her wheelchair, semi-blinded by macular degeneration and with shaky hands, she could still play Bach and find the chords for the songs she used to accompany. Another of Ruth's talents was for friendship and she valued and nurtured her relationships. To the last she was interested in the world outside the nursing home, in politics and in local, national and world affairs, a liberal with both a small and large L . She followed curling and the Bombers with interest. Her sense of humour, which could be wry, helped with the frustrations of old age. When a much younger sister-in-law died before her time, Ruth was heard to remark that she herself must still be here to improve my attitude . She must have finally succeeded. Ruth was predeceased by her parents, her siblings: Ernest, Louise Ekins, Ed (Bea), Jean Fuller and Charlie, her husband (1992), and her son-in-law Vic Batzel (2009). She is survived by her children: Brenda Batzel, Judith Clarke of Strasbourg, SK, Brian Clarke of Surrey, BC (Adele); her grandchildren: John Batzel of Calgary, AB (Joanne Haffey), Geoff Batzel of Abu Dhabi, UAE (Rudayna Abdo) and Nichola Batzel; Stephen Clarke of Vancouver, BC (Michelle), Shannon Lawrence of Carbon, AB (Shane) and Cathy Runquist of Raymond, BC (Tyler); her great-grandchildren: Ella Batzel; Marwan and Ramzi Batzel; Aidan Batzel; Thomas Clarke; Eliza, Sam, Abigail, Caleb, Ben and Annaleigh Lawrence; Emma, Jillian, Josh, Elisabeth, William and Jared Runquist; her niece Jean Swift (Glenn) and other nieces and nephews. The family thanks the many at Lion's Personal Care Centre who did their best to make her life more comfortable and interesting as her choices grew fewer. Thanks also to her faithful visitor, Joanne Watkins. A memorial event will be held at a later date. Friends who wish may donate to Rossbrook House, which provides refuge, recreation and learning to inner city children and was dear to her heart. Rossbrook House, 658 Ross Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3A 0M1. The Coutu family in care of arrangements: E. J. COUTU CO. FUNERAL DIRECTORS 680 Archibald St. 253-5086

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 01, 2010