Ruth Louise Eaken

Ruth Louise (Schertzer) Eaken, 93, of Medina, Ohio, passed away early morning of Tuesday, July 1, 2025, a few hours after visiting with her son. She had contended with complications from congestive heart and afib. Born in Morall, Ohio in Marion County, on December 12, 1931, she was the daughter of George and Vena (Hedges) Schertzer. Her father retired from Ohio Northern University (ONU) after serving as their first Alumni Director and her mother as a university librarian. Ruth grew up in the Marion area-living in town and on the farm her father worked during WWII. She grew up in a large and loving extended family. Her younger sibling, Don (deceased), also became a teacher, coach, and school counselor near Urbana, Ohio. Early days meant that they sometimes shared farm chores, cared for young livestock, and wandered expansive fields together. Ruth graduated from Greencamp High School in 1948 as class Valedictorian and received a scholarship to attend ONU (BA in Education,1952). A state teacher's organization selected her as one of two students statewide to receive a financial award based on scholastic achievement and interest in making teaching a career. Ruth earned her MA from the University of Akron (1989) in Outdoor Education-a growing area that uses nature as an immersive setting by which to learn and apply the classroom-based-curriculum while encouraging environmental stewardship. Ruth and Robert Eaken married on September 27, 1953, at the Methodist Church in Marion, Ohio. Ruth met this Medina fellow at ONU where he graduated from the College of Pharmacy. She caught his attention at a freshman dance, and again, as homecoming queen during her Junior year. They celebrated 49 years together until his death in November 2002. Both are survived by their daughter, Sue Lark (husband Al), in Greenville, South Carolina; and son, Bruce Eaken, in Medina, Ohio. Both are graduates of Medina High and ONU. In 1957, the two began a family in Medina. Bob worked as a local pharmacist and Ruth tended to family and the church community before resuming her teaching in 1966. For many summer vacations, the family explored the semi-wilderness areas of Michigan's U.P. Over the 35 years that Ruth taught at Applewood Elementary in Brunswick, she received many recognitions for her outstanding teaching. She was a Martha Holden Jennings Scholar, selected to be in the teachers honorary society Delta Kappa Gamma, and a recipient of a grant from NASA that formed a partnership with the class on topics of science and geography. She was awarded teacher-of-the-year by her school and, upon retirement, a new award given in her honor was established to give to two students annually for their scholastic performance, improvement, and good character. A tree was also planted in front of applewood elementary school to honor her many years of teaching and the throngs of students she had helped along the way to feel cared for and to find joy in learning. Over her lifetime, it was clear that she was a natural educator whose joyful spirit, creativity, warmth, and personal caring for students were readily apparent. Ruth was active in the Brunswick Education Association and a member of OEA and NEA. She was active in Delta Kappa Gamma for many years-attending state and national conferences. She belonged to the Medina First Christian Church (Disciples) for most of her adult life, for lesser amounts at the Weymouth Church, and finally the First Methodist Church. Ruth was also a member of Medina Coterie, a long standing women's literary society. In all, a deep love for education, children, her Christian faith, her dear friends, her beloved family, and all the fields and forests of her youth, stayed with her all her life. A viewing will be held this Friday, July 11, 2025 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Waite Funeral Home 765 N Court St., Medina, Ohio. A larger memorial service and celebration-of-life gathering will be announced, once the date is established. Announcements will appear on the Waite website, the paper, and by invitation. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.waitefuneralhome.com