Violet Virginia Ringenberg's Obituary
Violet Ringenberg, 89, of Woodburn, IN went home to heaven on February 4, 2013 to literally sit at the feet of the Jesus whom she served so faithfully throughout her life. She was surrounded by her family who loved her.
Born to Ida and Valentine Egly on July 21, 1923 in Adams County, IN, Violet graduated from Monroe High School and went on to graduate from Ft Wayne Bible Institute, now Taylor University. While in college she met the love of her life, Gerald Ringenberg, and they were married upon graduating. A move to Continental, OH followed where Gerald pastored the North Mount Zion Church and Violet was his helpmate in anyway needed. As a team, they pastored churches in Cleveland, OH, Woodburn and Albion, IN and have spent the last few years visiting the sick and those in need for Woodburn Missionary Church, where they had previously pastored for 22 years. Their years of ministry have totaled to more than 67.
Violet was a true example of what it means to have a servant heart, leaving a wonderful legacy to those left to follow in her footsteps. From feeding the many homeless that would show up at her home in Cleveland, to preparing weekly Sunday meals for the hundreds of Taylor students that would come through her doors over the years, Violet was constantly serving others and helping them grow in their faith. Until she became ill in September, she would make and send out approximately 40 cards/monthly (which she made on the computer) to her hundreds of "prayer kids" and their children, always enclosing $1.00 and praying for them regularly.
One of the great loves of her life was Ft Wayne Bible College/Taylor University Ft Wayne where she was involved in numerous activities and various alumni events, the yearly phon-a-thons and the alumni council until she became too ill to participate. In the Phon-a-thons, she usually won the prize for raising the most money.
However, Violet invested the most into her husband and family, attending wrestling matches, baseball, basketball and volleyball games, church and youth events and any activity that involved a family member. As the family grew to include 13 grandchildren, she continued to be involved in their lives and would play games, house, store or whatever was on the child's list for Grandma to play. She also was a patient teacher, and was able to leave her legacy of pie baking with those who were willing to watch and learn. However, the mulberry- cherry pies will be missed at the family gatherings since no one has quite mastered one yet.
Violet knew how to tell great stories, mostly based on her life, and she kept many a child, grandchild or whoever was willing to listen, in stitches as she remembered events from her past. She also was blessed with a great memory and was the "go-to" person for family information and details.
Up until the fall of 2012, Violet and Gerald spent their time visiting the sick and those in need at the hospital and nursing homes and transporting people to where they needed to be. She and Gerald rarely missed a funeral or celebration of any kind and made the younger family members tired just thinking about how they were always "serving."
Violet leaves behind her devoted husband and teammate of almost 68 years, Gerald; three children: Roger (Carol) Ringenberg, Gary Ringenberg and Dorcas (Dave) McDeavitt all of Ft Wayne, and foster daughter Yvonne (Randy) Nigh of Rushville, IN; 13 adoring grandchildren: Jody (Andy) Dietsch and Jill Park, Ft Wayne; Ryan (Jennifer) Ringenberg, Indianapolis; Brent (Karla) Ringenberg, Wauseon, OH; Jacob (Carly) Ringenberg, Greenwood, SC; Jon Ringenberg, Waco, TX; Kathryn and Sarah Ringenberg, Ft Wayne; Jennifer (Matt) Gaylor, Westfield; Luke, Hannah and Noah Nigh, Rushville and Jaime Nigh of Minneapolis, MN; 13 great-grandchildren; siblings: Lester (Carole) Egly of Taylors, SC and Glenna (Milt) Wong of Ft Wayne; brothers-in-law, Dave Nussbaum, Berne, IN and Paul Erdel, Mishawaka, IN and numerous nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ida and Valentine Egly and siblings: Chloetta Erdel, Albert Egly and Carolyn Nussbaum and sister-in-law, Norma Egly.
The calling will be held at Woodburn Missionary Church, Friday, February 8, 2013 from 2 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, February 9, 2013 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. with the funeral service at Woodburn Missionary Church on Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. Arrangements made by E Harper & Son Funeral Home, New Haven.
Memorials may be made to Woodburn Missionary Church or Taylor University-Fort Wayne Alumni & Friends Resource Center.
A fitting tribute to a beautiful life well-lived is found in Proverbs 31:28, "Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her."
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