Ruth Wagner

Ruth Shaw Wagner died peacefully on June 20, 2022, at Life Care of Stonegate in Parker, Colorado, after having lived a full life to the grand old age of 104 ½.

A Colorado native, Ruth was born on November 11, 1917, in Denver. She graduated from North High School in Denver and completed 2 ½ years at Colorado State University where she was a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority. In 1939 she married William Wagner, a Colorado State University graduate in Civil Engineering. Their first child, Judy, was born in 1940, followed by Bill in 1943 and Nancy in 1946. Ruth’s husband, Bill, joined the U.S. Army and served in Europe during World War II.

In 1946 the family moved to Lakewood where she raised her three children in the Catholic Faith (after Ruth was baptized into the Catholic Church herself) and was active in her children’s education, school activities and sports.  After her husband’s retirement in 1974, Ruth and Bill traveled to many European countries, the Azores, Russia, Dominican Republic, Caribbean, Mexico, and Alaska, while remaining in Lakewood for 42 years.

Ruth and Bill celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a large reception, which she was unable to have when they were first married. They enjoyed 61 years of marriage, a tribute to their faith and dedication to each other and to their love of their family.

Ruth enjoyed golf for many years, playing cards, especially bridge and pinochle, bowling, traveling, and visiting with friends and relatives. Most of all she enjoyed her family: her 3 children and 7 grandchildren and all their spouses, her 21 great grandchildren (ages 7 to 26) and 2 great great-grandchildren, one of whom was born 8 hours before she died…the circle of life continues!

Ruth always had a big smile on her face for everyone. She was a gentle, gracious, cheerful person with a positive attitude and was accepting of everyone. She had a sense of humor that made others laugh, especially during her 7 years at Life Care of Stonegate. She would often be humming or singing a song. During her last year she would sing the chorus of “The Old Rugged Cross”. When she couldn’t remember the words, she would hum it and then sing, “and exchange it for a crown”!

Ruth was survived by her daughter Judith (husband Joe Hogan), son Bill (wife Marge Wagner), son-in-law Randall Huber, grandchildren Lisa (Travis), Jana (Jeff), Mark (Tammy), Tamara (Jason), Jennifer (Bill), Erik (Mitra), Scott (Christina), 21 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren.  Preceding her death was the death of her husband William, her brother Albert, her daughter Nancy, and her son-in-law Edward.

Ruth’s funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, July 8th, at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Loreto, 18000 E. Arapahoe Road, Foxfield, Colorado. Recitation of the Rosary will precede the Mass at 9:45 a.m. Burial will be on July 12th at Mt. Olivet Cemetery at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Our Lady of Loreto Catholic School at the above address.