Ruth Ellen Ellis Frantz Posted: 2018-04-03 16:11:24

Obituary

Ruth Ellen Ellis Frantz

Ruth Frantz passed away peacefully on Friday March 30, 2018 at home in Huntley surrounded by her loving family. Born in 1930 to Alva and Bertha Ellis, she joined brother Austin, and they were soon joined by brother Albert. Marilyn Frantz, her best friend at Northeast High School in Kansas City, persuaded Ruth to go on a date with Marilyn’s brother Bob. That date was a ride in Bob’s small airplane. Thus began their adventure in life together that lasted over 65 years. Ruth married Robert Waldo Frantz in 1949, and they raised Margaret Gail, Robert Gregory, Shirley Jean and Randall David in Roselle, Illinois after traveling the country in a trailer for Bob’s job.
Ruth was employed for many years at Quaker Oats in Barrington IL, where she tested complaint samples and made many friends. After a hiatus from flying, Bob took it up again and Ruth then became a pilot as well. They built a house in The Landings in Huntley in order to better access the sky. Ruth discovered the organization of women pilots The 99s, and joined to find many friends. She and Bob were leaders together in The 99s, the Illinois Pilots Association and the US Pilots Association.
When a grandson was diagnosed with a severe mental illness, Ruth found and led the whole family to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
Ruth loved her family, friends old and new, travel, her exercise class, and the color purple.
In passing, Ruth now joins her parents, and husband Robert Waldo, as well as brother Austin, son Randall, sisters-in-law Marilyn, Dorothy Hawkins and Mildred de Vries, niece Cindy Palmer, and nephews Rick Ellis and Peter White.
Ruth is survived by brother Albert (Donna) Ellis, brother-in-law Charles Lickteig, daughters Margaret (Charles) Elmer and Dr. Shirley Frantz, son Robert G. Frantz, grandsons Matthias, Theodore and Christopher Elmer, nieces Judy (John) Nold, Jan (Don) Riggenbach, Cathy White, Tammy (Jeremy) Hawkins, Karen Diaczyk, Robin (Steve) Laycock, Cathy Totty, nephews Christopher (Amy) Lickteig, Joseph (Donna) Hawkins and Steve Ellis, and cousin David (Sue) Hartmann, as well as many cousins, greats and grands and cherished friends.
A memorial service will be held at DeFiore Jorgensen Funeral Home-10763 Dundee Road, Huntley on Saturday April 7, 2018. Visitation from 3:00PM-5:00PM with a service at 5pm. For further information please call the funeral home at 847-515-8772 or on-line condolences may be directed to www.defiorejorgensen.com

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