Earl Unruh

Earl Dean Unruh, 86 of Grove Oklahoma passed away peacefully to be with the Lord on November 22, 2020.  Earl was born in Goltry Oklahoma on September 17th 1934 to Lorene and Dewey Unruh and moved to Independence Kansas in 1942.  Earl was the oldest of six children.  He graduated from Independence high school in 1952, Independence Junior College in 1954 and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1971 from Wichita State University.

Earl met the love of his life Barbara Ransbottom during high school senior skip week.  Their first date was a double date with lifelong friends Bob and Esther O’Brien.  They dug fish worms at the O’Brien homestead near Liberty and went fishing the next day.  They married on April 18, 1954 and shared over 66 years of marriage.  They raised three sons, David, Bill and Mark Unruh.  Earl loved hunting, fishing, and growing rose and vegetable gardens.  He worked as a produce manager for Safeway in Independence before going to work for KG&E in December of 1954.  He worked for KG&E/Westar moving from Independence to Newton KS, Wichita KS, Arkansas City KS and back to Wichita.  While raising his family he coached his sons in basketball, junior baseball and kept them active in boy scouts.  He was active in many civic groups including Jaycees, Kiwanis, and an Elder at Lutheran churches before retiring in the summer of 1995.

Earl had a most blessed life with a wonderful family, friends, and faith in God.  While raising their family they vacationed every year in Colorado where the family enjoyed camping, fishing, hiking and backpacking.  In 1997 they moved to Grove Oklahoma to take advantage of the quiet, beautiful area and enjoy life on the Grand Lake of the Cherokees.  After retirement they traveled the world with friends and family.  They were blessed to spend time with 8 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.  They drove thousands of miles seeing national parks, trips to Alaska, and seeing family.  Cruising became the mode of travel later in life and together they enjoyed more than seventy cruises.

Earl was proceeded in death by his parents, Dewey and Lorene Unruh of Independence, Earl and Thelma Ransbottom, brother Derrill Unruh of Independence, sister Sharon and John Rorick of Independence, and Lybbe Unruh (wife of son Bill) Grove OK.  Celebrating his life is wife Barbara, sons James David Unruh (Marsha) Salida CO, Bill Unruh Grove OK, Mark (Dee Ann) Auburn NE, brothers Don (Barbara) Unruh Tulsa OK, Mike (Susan) Unruh Auburn NE, and sister Mary (Ed) Robinson Independence KS, and all of Earls grandchildren.

Graveside services will take place on Wednesday, November 25th at 1:00 pm at Mount Hope Cemetery in Independence, Kansas. Memorial contributions can be made in Earl’s name to Immanuel Lutheran Church, 706 Rockwood Dr., Grove, OK 74344. To leave the family a special message of condolence, please visit www.pottsfuneralhome.com.