Ruth Sindelar's Obituary
RUTH SINDELAR (nee ZANDER), AGE 92 OF SEVEN HILLS, WENT HOME TO BE WITH THE LORD ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2025. Ruth was the cherished wife of the late Ernest Sindelar for 18 years. She is preceded in death by her sister Evelyn Gartman (the late Herbert) and leaves behind her sister Edna Wells (the late Willis).
Ruth studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music and became a church organist at the young age of 14. She played the organ for Zion Lutheran Church. After graduating from Cuyahoga Heights High School, Ruth worked for a bank and then Ecolab. Not that interesting you say? Well she and her friend felt the same way - so they quit their jobs and set out in search of a real adventure. They caught a freighter (named the Rugdefyell) at a dock behind the old stadium and started on a 5-day cruise that cost the enormous sum of $125. They went up the Welland Canal and down the St. Lawrence. After disembarking, Ruth and her friend flew to Europe and spent three months touring Amsterdam, Paris, London, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Greece.
Upon her return, Ruth took a job at Channel 5 TV station as secretary to Dorothy Fuldheim and Paige Palmer. It was there that she met her future husband, Ernie Sindelar whom she describes as "the Love of my Life". In 1979 they were married and honeymooned in China. Her search for personal enrichment led Ruth to The Plain Dealer in 1966 where she became secretary to the executive editor and then assistant to the publisher. In 1969, she published an article about her visit to NASA's mission control center where she was the only civilian to be there during the launch. She also experienced the Apollo 9 and the Delta Weather Satellite launches. Ruth met many important, influential and intelligent people while working 31 years at The Plain Dealer - people such as John Glenn, Ted Kennedy, Henry Kissinger, Billy Graham, George Bush and Hubert Humphrey.
Ruth loved her many nieces and nephews as though they were her own children including Barbara Carbajal (Robert), Arthur Gartman (Darlene), Christina Kowalski, Douglas Wells (Linda), and Eric Wells (Tina). Her great nieces and nephews include Randel, Joslyn, Zander, David, Christopher, Jakob, Nathan, Sierra, Savannah, Brian, and Kyle.
Ruth's sense of adventure was infectious and she always included her nieces, nephews, and grandnephews in her travels. In her younger years, she and her sister would spend summer days at local swim parks and swimming beaches. She loved going to Cedar Point and riding the roller coaster with her sister Edna. She traveled to Russia with her niece Christina. She planned trips to Lancaster, PA with her nieces Barbara and Christina and ensured the great nephews/niece Randel, Zander, Joslyn, Christopher, and David were exposed to the Site and Sound Theater, the Hershey Hotel, and Gettysburg. She enjoyed the theatre and the Singing Angels inviting family to concerts throughout the years. In her later years, she traveled with her sister, Edna, and her nephew Arthur and niece Barbara to Hilton Head South Carolina, Florida, and a day trip to the Bahamas. She enjoyed Golfing, swimming and photography making greeting cards from her photos and sharing with friends.
With an eye for design and fashion, she loved shopping. During a visit to Florida, she was able to shop at the original Chicos on Sanibel island. She loved her fur coat. Going out with Ruth, someone always had to watch her fur coat while she went to the Ladies Room. Her Easter hats were the talk of the Church. She was known in the community by many as "the lady in the hat".
Her love of ice cream was known among her family. Pinocchio's in Sanibel Island, Florida was a favorite along with Honey Hut in Ohio. She passed the ice cream love onto her nieces and nephews.
Ruth was famous for singing "Happy Birthday" to her friends and relatives each year just like clockwork. Anyone who received one of Ruth's birthday greetings will hold dear in their heart their last birthday greeting from Ruth.
FRIENDS MAY CALL AT VODRAZKA FUNERAL HOME 6505 BRECKSVILLE RD., INDEPENDENCE (1/2 mile south of Rockside Rd.) ON SATURDAY, MAY 10, 2025, FROM 2:00 - 3:00 PM. A funeral service in honor of Ruth's life will begin at 3:00 PM at the funeral home. Friends and family are welcome to join for dinner following the service at Vodrazka Funeral home, lower level.
If you would like to make a memorial contribution in Ruth's honor, the family suggests giving to either the Singing Angels at www.singingangels.org or to the organ fund at Bethel Lutheran Church 7171 Pearl Rd., Middleburg Hts.
What’s your fondest memory of Ruth?
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Share a story where Ruth's kindness touched your heart.
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