Ruth Diephuis

Diephuis, Ruth Ruth Bandeen Diephuis passed away on July 4, 2014. She was born on January 17, 1917 in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan to Rev. William T. Bandeen and Viola Mae Burke. She graduated from Bay City, Michigan High School and BC Junior College before receiving her BA from North Central College in Naperville, Illinois. She also received an MA in Administration from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Prior to teaching in the Kalamazoo Public Schools she taught in St. Charles, Grand Blanc, and Paw Paw, Michigan. In Kalamazoo she taught at Woodward School and then was a Resource Teacher for all elementary schools before becoming Principal of South Westnedge and Arcadia Schools. She served as an adjunct professor teaching Social Studies in the Education Departments at Nazareth and Western Michigan colleges. Ruth was an active member of Second Reformed Church serving in many different areas of Christian Education and serving several times on the Church Consistory as Vice President and Clerk. For six years she represented the Southwest Classis of the Reformed Church on the General Synod Council for the Reformed Church. Her professional memberships included the Michigan and National Retired Teachers Association and the National Educational Sorority Alpha Delta Kappa. She was honored with a Life Membership in the PTA and received the Medallion Excellence Award from the Kalamazoo Public Schools. She co-authored a social studies curriculum for grades kindergarten through grade six and served on many educational committees. Her community activities were varied and many. In 2000 she received the Community Career Star Award, and a Community Service award from the Community Access Center having served as President of the Board for three years. She was an active member of the Kalamazoo Garden Council and Petal Pushers. She volunteered at the Ministry with Community, Habitat for Humanity, Deacons Conference, the Christian Resource Center, and the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop. For twenty years she served on the Kalamazoo Township Planning Commission and played an active role in promoting conservation of land, nature, and green space. She also served on the Numazu Kalamazoo Sister City Committee. Her husband, Raymond G. Diephuis of thirty seven years died in 1985. Surviving are her two sons, David Carol of Ann Arbor and Stephen Leslie of Tempe, Arizona; one sister, Thelma Stockwell of Corvallis, Oregon, numerous nieces and nephews, and several grand nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death were her parents and two brothers, Wilbur Bandeen and Marion Bandeen. Visitors will be received on Sunday, July 6, from 2-5 PM and Monday, July 7, from 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Westside Chapel, 3926 S. 9th Street. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, July 12 at Second Reformed Church, 2323 Stadium Drive. Private family internment will be at Mt. Ever-Rest Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to the Second Reformed Church, Ministry With Community, American Cancer Society Discovery Shop, Habitat for Humanity, or charity of your choice.