News at ABWE
Remembering Ruth Patton
Ruth Patton, missionary to Spain since 1998, went to be with her Lord and Savior Wednesday March, 26, 2008. She was 45 years old.
Born to Harold and Eleanor Vander Mey on December 19, 1962, Ruth was led to the Lord by her father when she was in the first or second grade. A gifted musician and vocalist, she earned her diploma in Sacred Music at Grand Rapids School of Bible and Music with a three-year full tuition scholarship and then later earned her B.A. in Music Education at Calvin College in Grand Rapids. As she began to sense God’s leading into missions, she went on a summer trip to Iquitos in 1986, which is when she met her future husband John Patton.
Ruth was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Muskegon, Michigan, and prior to becoming a missionary was a K-12 vocal music teacher at Grace Christian Schools in Okeechobee, Florida, and then at Northern Michigan Christian Schools in McBain, Michigan. After John and Ruth were appointed to Spain by ABWE in 1994, Ruth went on to earn a Masters degree in Teaching English as a Second Language at Nova University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to further prepare herself for ministry.
God used this training to help make contact with many families in their church-planting target area. Ruth taught English classes for children from 2001 to 2007. She loved to teach and was always happy to share her ideas and materials with other missionaries. Teaching English classes led to offering a one-week intensive English Camp every June. Ruth planned and directed four English Camps, the last one in June of 2007 with 45 elementary students. She wrote creative skits and hilariously fun songs to help them learn English for after-school and summer classes. She poured herself into making learning enjoyable.
Ruth had a beautiful voice and sang in many special events in Spain, and she was also an excellent pianist and accompanied the worship times in two different churches. Ruth helped a Spanish choir and several small ensembles prepare music for Christmas programs. More recently, she wrote songs for children to sing in English classes and at English camp. She also gave piano lessons to several missionary children who would not have otherwise been able to study music.
Ruth’s coworkers in Spain have described her as having a high level of commitment to ministry. She never lost sight of why she was in Spain—to share the gospel. She was not naturally outgoing, but she consciously worked at developing relationships in her neighborhood. Everyone liked Ruth with her slow smile and gentle ways. She was a creative “idea person” who was a big asset to her missionary team. In her gracious manner, she consistently forgave other people’s faults.
In addition to her own ministry, Ruth was a loyal helpmeet and faithful life partner to her husband John. She made it her goal to support him—remembering appointments and responsibilities and sharing ideas for ministry. She even shared in sports activities that he liked so he would have her company.
At the end of her life, she was strong in suffering. Ruth fought cancer for a long time, but she was not a complainer, nor did she wallow in self pity. Her classic reply to “How are you doing?” was “I’m doing well,” even when she was tired, weak, or sick.
Ruth will be greatly missed by her family, coworkers, and many friends, but she is in the presence of the One she loved and served so faithfully.
Viewing and Funeral
The viewing will be on Monday, March 31 from 5–8 p.m., at the Sytsema Chapel 737 Apple Avenue Muskegon, MI 49442.
The funeral will be on Tuesday, April 1, at 11:00 a.m., at the Evanston Avenue Baptist Church, 1188 Evanston Ave Muskegon, MI 49442.
There will also be a viewing in the church the hour before the funeral.