Ruth Louise Slover

 Ruth Louise Royer Funk Slover

December 11, 1937 - October 26, 2023

Ruth Louise Slover died peacefully on October 26, 2023 at age 85 in Miami, Oklahoma. 

Ruth was born December 11, 1937 near Ottawa, Kansas to George Loyd Royer and Florence Louise Hoagland Royer. She grew up in Kansas with her sisters, Marjorie, Jean, and Linda. Ruth originally attended high school in LaCygne, but graduated from Osawatomie High School. Ruth married Dale Funk in her junior year, and at that time, married women could not attend LaCygne High School. Because education was important to her, Ruth attended Osawatomie to finish high school. Ruth and Dale had three children together, Michael, Vicki, and John. The family lived in LaCygne when the children were young then moved to Sacramento, California where Dale ran a successful gas station. 

After all their children were nearly adults, Ruth admitted to her son Mike that she had always wanted to be a nurse, but feared she was too old to start school. Mike asked her how long it would take to become a nurse, and how old she would be when she completed the program. After she answered, he asked how old she’d be at that time if she did not go to nursing school. This was a lightbulb moment for Ruth, and solidified her decision to follow her dream. Ruth attended Fort Scott Community College and graduated in 1979. She later furthered her education and got her bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s College of California in 1983 and worked as a successful nurse for many years before retiring. A nurse through and through, even as she suffered from Alzheimers, Ruth would join the nurse’s huddle at the nursing home where she resided in her later years. 

After her husband Dale died suddenly in 1999, Ruth married Charles “Chuck” Slover. Ruth and Dale had been good friends with Chuck and his wife, Julie. After both Julie and Dale had passed away, Ruth and Chuck married and made their home in Sacramento. They later moved from Sacramento to Grove, Oklahoma. During their marriage, Ruth and Chuck enjoyed traveling and discovering new restaurants. Chuck was a kind and gentle man who loved all of Ruth’s children and grandchildren, and cared for Ruth in their home as long as he could when she became ill. Chuck passed away in December, 2022. 

Ruth’s family remember her as a beautiful, smart, and classy woman. She enjoyed shopping and had a beautiful collection of clothes, shoes, and handbags. She was always dressed and accessorized sharply and always carried herself with elegance. She was also a wonderful cook. She made the most delicious dinner rolls and her broccoli casserole recipe, which was originally her mother Florence’s recipe, will continue to be a staple around her family’s Thanksgiving dinner tables as they recall her fondly. 

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Dale Funk; her parents Loyd and Florence Royer; sister Marjorie Stainbrook; and husband Chuck Slover. She is survived by her three children, Michael Funk and wife Karen; Vicki Hoffman and husband Keith; John Funk and wife Carolyn; two sisters: Jeanne Driskell and Linda Marcum; eight grandchildren: Jennifer Silva, Laura Chilson, Brian Hoffman, Stacy Gyurics, Julie Burk, Jesse Funk, Annie Funk, and Melanie Zieman; and ten great-grandchildren. She also leaves behind many stepchildren, step-grandchildren, and step-great grandchildren from her marriage to Chuck. 

Ruth’s final resting place will be at the cemetery in Cadmus, next to her first husband, Dale. There will be no formal services, but please honor Ruth by following a dream for which you feared you were too old.