Ruth E. Voth

Ruth Elaine (Eldred) Voth was born July 16, 1937, in Grand Rapids, Michigan and went to be with the Lord at age 88, on April 7, 2026, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Ruth graduated from Wheaton College in 1958. She married her husband, Richard “Dick” Voth, on June 21, 1958. They were married for 63 years.

Ruth gave her life to Christ, responding to an altar call at age 4. At age 9 she offered her life to the LORD to serve in missions. This call stayed with her thru her high school and college years, and was fulfilled when she met her husband Dick, when they became missionaries almost ten years later.

After nine years of teaching and working in administration in the US, and subsequently attending language school in Costa Rica, Ruth & Dick moved their family in 1967 to Buenos Aires, Argentina, as missionaries. Ruth served in the Instituto Bíblico Buenos Aires (“IBBA”) assisting with Dick’s choir, teaching English classes at IBBA, and becoming very active in women’s ministry at the churches where they served. Together, Ruth and Dick served in Argentina thirty-one years. They retired to Winchester, VA in 1998, and eventually made their home in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Ruth loved people and sharing the love of Christ to all she met. She became a trusted friend to many, wherever she lived. She loved the hurting and disadvantaged and volunteered as a translator for Spanish-speaking women who needed assistance with their social services. She loved praying daily for family and friends, and helping wherever she could.

Ruth is preceded in death by her husband Richard “Dick” Voth, parents Clyde and Cora Eldred, sister Jean (Earl) Hamilton, brother William (Marlene) Eldred, and stepsister-in-law Gerda DenBoer.

Ruth is survived by her children Allen (Christina) Voth and Cheryl (Eduardo) Ferraro, stepbrother John (Barbara) DenBoer, grandchildren Richelle, Laura, Alissa, John, Alfredo (Denise), Andrés (Yanina), and Ruthie (Ramiro), and great grandchildren Pía, Nicolás, Uma & Cala.

A Memorial Gathering to honor and remember Ruth’s life will be held on April 10, 2026, 2:00 – 3:30 pm. The gathering will take place at Rest Haven Homes, 1424 Union Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505. Family and friends are invited to join in quiet reflection and remembrance as we pay tribute to Ruth’s life and legacy. In lieu of a formal service, this gathering provides an opportunity to share memories and offer support to one another.

Family would prefer donations to Rest Haven Homes in lieu of flowers.

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