Ruth Eleanor Gruendling Johnson

Ruth Eleonor Gruendling Johnson Ruth passed away December 11, 2023 at the age of 90 following medical complications from a fractured hip after falling on a routine trip to the grocery store. She was born June 11,1933 in Plainfield, New Jersey to Freida and Kurt Gruendling along with an older sister Renate, and two younger brothers' Hilmar and Gerhard. She graduated from Bernardsville High School in Bernardsville, New Jersey. She graduated from the University of Illinois-Champagne in 1955 with a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics and in 1992 with a Master's degree from Georgetown University. Her career after college started in Chicago working for Illinois Bell. She married Norman Johnson who she met in college. They moved to Indianapolis, Indiana and had 2 children, Kristina Marion (Swetnam) and Eric Norman Johnson. They moved back to New Jersey and then to St. Louis, Missouri in 1967. After 20 years of marriage, Ruth divorced and began working again for Ralston Purina and then the Defense Mapping Agency. In 1982, she began working for the U.S. Army which took her to Washington, D.C.working for the Assistant Secretary of the Army and in the Pentagon for the Chief of Staff of the Army. In 1992, she was stationed in Heidelberg, Germany for 2 years allowing her to travel extensively throughout Europe and Southeast Asia. She enjoyed classical music throughout her life, playing piano from a very young age. She loved attending various operas annd musical performances especially in Italy. In 2007 after 34 years with the federal government and many awards during her career, she retired. Ruth was never one to rest too long and shortly after retirement, she began volunnteering at the The Newseum and The Shakespeare Theatre. She also began swimming daily with the D.C. Wizards, a senior’s swim team, mentored by her favorite coach Roger McCoy, where she swam at several Senior Nationals receiving many medals inncluding 1st Place in the 50 Free. She also ran the Army 10-Miler several times. During Covid she moved to Kansas City to live near her daughter. She is preceded in death by her son Eric Johnson and her sister Renate Crisp. She is survived by her daughter Kristina Marion Swetnam and husband Greg, grandchildren Jacob W.Swetnam, Alexandra Kristine Moore (Kyle), and Andrew G. Swetnam. She also has two great grandaughters' Josephine and Madalene Moore. We would like to thank the staff of the Kansas City Hospice House for their exceptional care, compassion and efforts in Ruth's last days. A private family service is planned for a later date.

Ruth Eleanor Gruendling Johnson

June 11, 1933 - December 11, 2023