Ruthann Eleanor Stults, 87, of Tucson, Arizona, met Jesus face to face in Heaven on February 18, 2026.

Ruthann was born to Paul and Mary Garton on April 19, 1938 at their home in Eckley, Colorado. She was the fifth child in a family of eight siblings.  

Growing up on the farm where cows needed milking day and night, Ruthann never traveled far from home with her parents. She didn’t have to travel far to find love, meeting Harold Stults from Vernon. She and Harold chose a verse from the book of Ruth for their wedding on December 27, 1959. Ruthann remembers the pastor had a good sermon on the theme, “Wither thou goest I will go. Your people will be my people.” Appropriately, they sure did go! They collected  “people” (friends) from all over the world: Saudi Arabia, Australia, California, Colorado, Virginia, Oregon, and Arizona.  The holy Christian Church truly does extend around the world! Their best friends were all whom they shared their common love of Jesus with. 

 When asked for travel advice, Ruthann wrote counsel which is good for all of life: “Plan, organize and be prepared; but know that things are not going to go as planned. Ask Jesus to give you guidance and wisdom. Trust that He is in charge. Think of disruptions as divine appointments, being willing to flow with whatever God brings across your path.”  

Harold and Ruthann were blessed with three children: Jon, Don, and Amy. The kids often woke to Ruthann reading scripture and praying at the breakfast table. She made it her “career” to raise her children in the Lord. Though she had no musical training, she loved music and ensured all the kids received piano lessons. Ruthann courageously sang in church, quoting Psalm 100:1 —  “Make a joyful noise to the Lord all the earth!” 

Everywhere they went, Harold and Ruthann were active in a local church. She volunteered in Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, youth group and worked at a church preschool. Ruthann volunteered at a crisis pregnancy center, was active in Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, led and hosted Bible studies and a Christ Care group for moms. She also made and served soup for many church events and acted as Grandma to countless children around her. 

Though she never lived in the same state as her grandchildren, she came to help when ten were born and when four more arrived through adoption. She always loved to be with her grandkids, to tell stories about them and to see their pictures.

Ruthann faced troubles, struggles, victories, and joys in her life with the help of Holy Scripture. She relied on Psalm 23 during her cancer treatments. “I recited it to myself often when I had cancer. It helped me to trust and praise God and not to be fearful. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all my days and I will dwell in the Lord’s House forever.”

After breaking her neck in a car accident in 2019 and years later developing dementia, Ruthann was lovingly and faithfully cared for by her husband, Harold.

She will be deeply missed by her husband Harold; her siblings Ken and Launa Garton, and Tom and Margee Garton; her children Jon and Cindy Stults, Don and Tyleen Stults, Robert and Amy Mrosko; twenty grandchildren and spouses, three great-grandchildren (and two more in the womb), and many dear friends in Christ.

 A Memorial Service will be held at Ascension Lutheran Church, 1220 West Magee Road, in Tucson on Friday, March 27 at 3:00 p.m. The family invites friends to join them for dinner following the service.

Ruthann’s funeral service will be available on Livestream and recorded on YouTube.

Memorial gifts can be made to the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML).

"The legacy I’d like to leave for others is that they would know that God is Love and He loves us and has a plan for our lives. He is always ready and able to help us when we call on Him.  There is nothing we can do to earn God’s grace. Jesus has done it all for us.”