Ruth C. Howard

Ruth Carol Howard was born November 24, 1936, in Waterloo, Iowa, to Carl and Nellie Kirkpatrick Atkinson. She went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on February 26, 2026. Ruth was a graduate of Waterloo East High School in 1954. She married Alan Harper in 1954 and they were later divorced. She lived in Alexandria, Virginia, for approximately two years and worked at the National Geographic Association in Washington, DC.

After returning to Waterloo, she was employed by Waterloo Metal and Manufacturing Company and later by the Waterloo Community Schools for sixteen years, serving in various secretarial positions at West Waterloo High School. In 1965, she married Lyonal "Bud" Oran Howard. They lived in Waterloo until 1982, at which time they moved to Fort Collins, Colorado. Ruth was employed at Colorado State University for fifteen years, serving in the Admissions, Environmental Health Services, Microbiology, and Physiology Departments.

Following Bud's heart surgery in 1998, he and Ruth joined the Adult Fitness Program at Colorado State University and enjoyed the program, participants, students, and leadership, participating together for many years.

For several years, while living in Iowa, they enjoyed Blue Grass Festivals. Later, after moving to Colorado, they enjoyed traveling and camping in their 5th wheel camper.

Ruth is survived by her daughters: Cynthia Page (Doug), and Laurie Alburn (Nathan); grandchildren: Christopher Page (Amy); Coulter Page (Jessica); and Danaca Ferdon (Sam); and 7 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bud, and her parents, Carl and Nellie.

A memorial tribute page has been set up in Ruth's name with the Alzheimer's Association. The link to the memorial is: https://events.alz.org/fundraisers/lauriealburn/honoring-ruth-howard