Cynthia Ruth (Close) Wirth
Marriages
Jack Wirth - July 19, 1952
Obituaries
The Daily Sentinel page 6A - August 11, 2022
Cynthia Ruth Wirth,
92, of Willow Springs,
Missouri, went to her
heavenly home on
Saturday, August 6, 2022.
She was born January 18,
1930, on the home place
built by Grandpa Valentine “Volley” Fuhr in Hamlet,
Illinois to her good and loving parents, Ernest “Doc”
and Appalonia Lona (Fuhr) Close. She was married
to Jack Wirth on July 19, 1952 and to this union two
children were born, Dirk and Eric Wirth.
Ruth will go to her earthly rest just a mile or two
from that very special home place. Ruth celebrated that
through the extraordinary efforts of her nephew and
family. The “homeplace” is now a thriving Century
Farm.
Ruth was known by many names, Ruth, Ruthie,
Mom, MooMoo, and Grandma Moo. Ruth displayed
the character of her biblical namesake; devoted, selfsacrificing, loyal, truthful, encourager, and always
loving. She never met a stranger.
Ruth graduated Aledo High School in 1948 and
University of Dubuque in 1952 with the honor of “Who’s
Who in American Colleges”.
Ruth taught for 30 years mostly in multi-handicapped
settings and instrumental in the beginning years of
Special Olympics. Ruth contributed to her many home
communities in AZ, CO, FL, and MO assisting to
establish several churches. She traveled to all 50 states
and numerous countries.
Ruth is preceded in death by her parents; brother, Don
Close; sister, Jean Ketzle and son, Eric Wirth.
Ruth is survived by her husband Jack, and one son
Dirk; six grandchildren, John, Joshua, and Aaron Wirth
of CO, Audrey Wirth Phelps of AK, Jasmine and Staci
Wirth of AZ; one granddaughter under our wing, Dina
Herrera Samuel of NC; 22 great-grandchildren; and
nine great-greats.
Funeral arrangements were under the direction of
Yarber Mortuary, Willow Springs, Missouri.
