Lasting Memories

Annabelle Kixmiller Ruch
1918-Dec. 21, 2007
Naples, Florida

Annabelle Kixmiller Ruch, 89, a resident of Naples, Fla., died Dec. 21 after short illness due to complications of lymphoma.

She grew up in San Marino, Calif., and graduated with honors from Stanford University, where she was president of the Stanford Women's student body and a member of a Cap and Gown — a women's honorary society.

She married fellow Stanford graduate Bruce C. Kixmiller in 1941. They raised three children.

She and her husband moved to Naples, Fla. in 1968, where they enjoyed two decades together. Her first husband died in 1988.

In 1990, she married Stewart E. Ruch. They spent 13 years traveling together and sharing a life in Indianapolis before he died in 2003.

She was an active member of the Moorings Presybterian Church for more than 20 years, where she served as deacon, Sunday school teacher and hospital volunteer.

For many years she also taught arts and crafts to those recovering from mental illness.

She is survived by her children, Margaret Vickers of Augusta, Maine, Susan DiMartino of Weston, Mass., and David Kixmiller of Menlo Park; three stepchildren, Skip Ruch of Naples, Fla., Bill Ruch of Zionsville, Ind., and Carolyn Rembusch of Indianapolis, Ind.; 16 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.