OBITUARY FROM THE WEED-CORLEY-FISH (AUSTIN, TX) FUNERAL HOME WEBSITE, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014:
Ruth Lorraine Ebbs, 88, was called home to her Lord on September 20, 2014 in Austin, Texas, surrounded by loving family and friends. Born on July 22, 1926 in Hobart, Indiana, her parents, Arthur H. Balitz and Erna C. Balitz, instilled in her a love for music and a lifelong heart for God and serving others.
Ruth took up the French Horn, studying under Max Pottag of the Chicago Symphony, and became a very proficient musician. At age eleven, she played in a horn quartet with three high school seniors that won a national ensemble competition. Her Hobart High School Band was nationally recognized as one of the leading programs in the country under the direction of William D. Revelli and later Frederick C. Ebbs. Ruth was Valedictorian of her high school class. Howard Hanson of the Eastman School of Music offered her a full scholarship which she turned down to marry the love of her life, her band director, Fred Ebbs.
As Fred Ebbs' career took him to Baldwin-Wallace College, the University of Iowa, and Indiana University, Ruth became the beloved "Band Mom" to generations of students. Being the first lady to a high-profile Big Ten band director, Ruth developed a flair for entertaining visiting conductors and composers. Her prime rib dinners and ice cream socials were legendary.
Traveling with the bands awakened Ruth's interest in seeing the world. She accompanied the University of Iowa Symphony Band on the first State Department tour of the Soviet Union and Western Europe in 1966. She shared her husband's sabbatical to the Holy Land and Egypt in 1978 and has more recently toured Italy, Germany, Spain, and England, this time as "Grandmom" to students on Texas State University tours.
Ruth lived her faith every day of her life. She was a forty year member of Faith Lutheran Church in Bloomington, Indiana where she was a vital link in the prayer chain and shepherding group while serving in many other roles in the church. She volunteered at the Hospitality House nursing home, making regular visits with residents who had no family to brighten their days. She gave her time and love generously to those God called her to serve.
Since moving to Austin in 2008, Ruth has been a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church. She has become the unofficial "mascot" of the Austin Symphonic Band, attending rehearsals and concerts alike. She said she loves it because "bands are just in my blood".
Ruth is survived by her daughter, Beth Ann Behning and son in law Frederick J. Behning Jr., grandchildren Fred J. Behning III and Tiffany Gurule, Becky and Erik Buscha, and great grandson Easton James Buscha. Also surviving are sister in law Jacqueline Balitz, nephew James Balitz, and niece Barbara Strickland.
Visitation is scheduled 6:00-8:00pm Wednesday, September 24, 2014 at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 North Lamar Blvd. Funeral service will be held at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1500 W. Anderson Lane on Thursday, September 25, 2014 at 11:00am. Ruth will be interred beside her husband Fred and infant daughter Susan in Amherst, Ohio.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Frederick C. Ebbs Memorial Scholarship Fund, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music c/o Indiana University Foundation, PO Box 6460, Indianapolis, IN 46206 or Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1500 W. Anderson Lane, Austin, TX 78757.
This information was obtained from: http://wcfish.tributes.com/obituary/show/Ruth-Lorraine-Ebbs-101712613.