Ruth Eleanor Fissel Koenig, a long-time resident of Danville, Illinois, and teacher at Danville Area Community College, died Sept. 9, 2022, in Austin, Texas, where she had resided for the past decade. She was 94 and had lived life in full. 

Born on Nov. 15, 1927 in Jennings Township, Spencerville, Ohio, she was the daughter of Charles and Eva Mary Becker Fissel and grew up on a nearby farm. Her siblingss included sisters, Bernice M., Pauline J., Doris M. and brother, Paul W.

Ruth was a scholar from the beginning as we see in the entries from the December 13, 1928, and the April 5, 1934, Spencerville, OH newspaper, The Journal News

 

 

 

 

 

Ruth Fissel and Don Craft Koenig both graduated from Spencerville High School. On May 19, 1946, she married Don, her high school sweetheart. Don Koenig had recently returned from service in the Pacific and European theaters of WWII. He had enlisted in the US Army in March of 1944. Since Don was 20 and Ruth 18, permission was required and received from Don parents and Ruth's father as her mother had died of complications during child birth in 1933. Don and Ruth were married by Rev. Samuel Ramaker of the First Federated Church of Spencerville. The couple remained in Northwest Ohio for all but one of the next 23 years. They had two sons: Doug, born in 1947, and John, in 1952.

After serving in WWII, Don  took advantage of the GI Bill, enrolling in Coyne Electrical School in Chicago and taking subsequent courses in radio, tv, electronics, and stationary engineering.  His work history throughout his life was in the field of industrial maintenance and management. Don worked as a journeyman electrician at Goodyear Tire and Rubber in St. Marys, OH and Ford Motor Co. in Lima, Ohio. While at Ford, he had special assignments at the 1964 World's Fair in New York.

Ruth began taking college classes at Ohio State University, Lima branch, in 1962. She was on the honor roll and was among the top 463 students at OSU. But her education was interrupted when Don was assigned by the Ford Motor Co. to work as a manager at a Ford Tractor plant in Basildon, England,. The family went with him.  Upon returning to Ohio, Ruth completed her undergraduate education, receiving a bachelor's degree in American History and a minor in Sociology from Bluffton College. She began teaching at Shawnee High School in Lima, Ohio, where she taught for three years.. 

In 1970, the couple moved to Danville, Illinois, where Don had taken a management job with Hyster Corp. He worked briefly for Quaker Oats, also in Danville. 

After receiving a master's degree in 1971, plus additional credits in English from the University of Illinois, Ruth joined the faculty of Danville Area Community College (DACC) as an English teacher. She became one of the most respected instructors on campus. When she retired in 1990, the college honored her by having her deliver the commencement address at that spring's graduation ceremony. 

Months later, she and Don were on their way to China, where they had been invited to teach conversational English for a year at a university in the city of Chengdu. She chronicled their experiences in a book, The Red Blackboard: An American Teacher in China, published in 1995. Here are some comments by Ruth about the book,

"In the early 1990s, I left a small community college in Illinois, along with my husband, a retired industrial maintenance manager, and went to the interior of the People's Republic of China to teach conversational English. It was a sometimes difficult, frustrating, even maddening, but ultimately enjoyable and satisfying year."

"In The Red Blackboard: An American Teacher in China, I tell about our year living, teaching, and traveling in China. It was an exciting teaching experience and and a fascinating look at a society and a culture that is unfamiliar to most Westerners. Dealing with the everyday events that presented themselves gave insight into the politics and values of China and left me with great affection and respect for its people. You will learn and even, I hope, laugh when you read about our experiences. It was the first time in my life I'd ever had to write on my syllabus, "Spitting in the classroom will not be tolerated;" the only time my husband was my hair colorist; and the greatest number of hours I'd spent without going to the bathroom. Nevertheless, I hope that just as we came to a better appreciation of China, that the Chinese whom we came in contact with have a better understanding and an affection for Americans."

"As a traveler, I had always been frustrated at 'having to eat and run' when visiting fascinating places. Being able to live, teach, and travel, and really get to know people was like a dream come true when my husband and I spent a year in China. Although fascinating, it was not an easy year. Coping with the lack of heat, of familiar foods, political monitors in the classroom, and few teaching materials sometimes made teaching a nightmare."

"Traveling in a country with woefully inadequate facilities and resources was frustrating and maddening. Venturing out without knowing the language created some awkward, embarrassing, and sometimes humorous situations. In one instance, some enterprising and engaging salesmen inveigled my husband into posing for pictures, prominently holding up some sample commercial products. When the pictures and sample brochures arrived later, we discovered that he seemed to be enthusiastically endorsing a feminine hygiene product. Nevertheless, as we came to know our Chinese students, friends, and colleagues who shared their lives and experiences, we gained a new understanding of courage and an appreciation for the endurance of the human spirit, and the natural sweetness of the Chinese people."

After returning to Danville, Ruth still wasn't ready to give up teaching entirely. She rejoined the DACC faculty as a part-time teacher of English and of English as a Second Language. In addition, she was an active member of the Danville branch of the American Association of University Women, (which named her Woman of the Year one year), a book club, Clover Club, and the Central Christian Church. She was also a volunteer for Faith in Action, the Danville Public Library, and the Boys and Girls Club. 

Her husband died in Danville in 2008. Four years later, at the age of 84, Ruth finally gave up her teaching job and moved to Austin, Texas, to be near son, John, and his family, and presumably to slow down. But within months of arriving, she was tutoring English as a Second Language students, working for President Obama's re-election campaign and registering voters as a volunteer. She also enrolled in the University of Texas's life-long-learning program and joined the Congregational Church of Austin, United Church of Christ, where she became a deacon. In addition, she wrote a book for her great-grandchildren, a memoir of her life growing up on the farm in the 1930s and titled A Girl Named Ruth. 

Not until she was in her 90s did the infirmities of age finally slow Ruth down. A brief illness led to her peaceful death. In accordance with her wishes, her body was donated to the University of Texas medical school in San Antonio. A memorial service is planned to be held at the Congregational Church of Austin on an as-yet-unscheduled date.  

Ruth is survived by sons Doug (Rhonda) Koenig of Lebanon, OH, and John (Barbara) Koenig of Austin; and grandchildren Joshua Koenig of Dayton OH, Benjamin (Rene) Koenig of Holland, MI, Christopher (Kisa) Koenig of Driggs, ID, and Katharine Brett (Travis) Greig of Austin; and seven great-grandchildren. 

Memorial contributions may be made of the Congregational Church of Austin.

(Acknowledgements: This article includes Ruth's obituary written by her son, John, material researched by Mel and Pat Oakes, Austin friends of Ruth's and information and several pictures from Lori Scheutzow.)

To see the slideshow of Ruth and Don from memorial service click at right:

On her 90th birthday, Nodie Murphy, choir director at Congregational Church of Austin composed the following song:

To Ruth Koenig
On the Occasion of Her Ninetieth Birthday

(sung to the tune of “Our God, Our Help in Ages Past”)

Ruth Koenig is a solid rock,
A mentor, friend and guide;
She triumphs o’er the lifeline clock
With minions by her side.

From humble roots she grew to spread
Her lessons near and far;
From here to China she has led
Us with her shining star.

By giving love and seeking truth
She weaves her life through ways
That yield to us from gallant Ruth
A tapestry of days.

Ruth Koenig is a solid rock,
A mentor, friend and guide.
May she continue Fate to mock
And with us long abide.

Nodie Murphy