Ruth Luella (Ball) Pontious

Ruth Luella (Ball) Pontious, born July 11, 1925 in Scotland, Indiana, died in Seattle, Washington on January 23, 2024—the same date on which her beloved husband Frank Edward Pontious died twenty-five years before her. At the time of her death, Ruth lived at St. Joseph Residence, Providence Mt. St. Vincent in West Seattle.

Her children were often told by those who knew her that she was “beautiful outside and in”. Her kind and loving soul shone through her striking blue eyes, eyes that were ready with a warm smile and understanding glance for the many people who shared their stories, concerns and desires with her because, as everyone said, she was caring and easy to talk to. After sharing their heart with Ruth, loved ones and friends came away with a feeling of hope and a path for wisdom. Ruth’s children grew to learn she was one of the smartest and wisest women they knew.

Ruth was a preacher's daughter. She lived her life exemplifying what that phrase should mean. It starts with love for your neighbor, hits its stride with walking the extra mile, and continues with taking the log out of your own eye before removing the speck from someone else's eye. Her faith was reflected in the grace with which she lived her life.

Thinking back over her ninety-eight years, Ruth told stories about living through dust storms on her relatives’ Kansas farm; her mother feeding traveling men during the Depression; learning the accordion because she admired a woman in her church who played; enjoying performing dramatic readings as a child; the comfort of memorizing Bible verses from A to Z, taught by her mother; and what fun she and her girlfriends had exploring Indianapolis during their years at Arsenal Technical High School.

Proud of her early jobs in Personnel and as a make-up artist at L. S. Ayres Department Store in Indianapolis, after losing her mother and father at a young age, Ruth found herself raising five children on her own-- the job of which she was most proud. The love she gave her children is a sustaining feature of their lives. As her children grew, she worked as an executive assistant in insurance companies, using the same care, smarts and listening skills she sharpened raising her children. It was at one of the insurance companies that she met her second husband and the love of her life--Frank Edward Pontious. Ruth often expressed her gratitude for having met Frank and the life they were able to enjoy together working, spending time with family and traveling the globe on cruise ship trips shared by Frank’s brother Gene.

Ruth lived a full life that saw her move from Indianapolis to Chicago to Caro and Lansing in Michigan to Columbus, Ohio to Ipswich, Massachusetts, to Scottsdale, Arizona and finally Seattle, Washington where two of her five children reside. She often marvled at all the places a child born in the small town of Scotland, Indiana had been.

Ruth’s greatest joy was spending time with her family. Over her ninety-eight years, Ruth was deeply loved and cared for by her parents, her brother Bill, her children, grandchildren, friends, and in her final years the wonderful caregivers at St. Joseph Residence and Providence Mt. St. Vincent. Ruth’s legacy lives on in the many hearts she soothed and cared for during her long life. Ruth is survived by her five children [Jan Nisenbaum, Jacquie Stock, Richard Stock (Barbara John), Kevin Stock (Patti Stock), Eric Stock (Mary Stock)], nine grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. 

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Arrangements entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home of West Seattle

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