Obituary of Sandra Lee Ruess

Sandra Lee (Pflueger) Ruess was born August 23, 1940 in St. Louis, MO to Edwin William and Mary Frances (Schmitz) Pflueger. She passed from this life Wednesday, March 25, 2015 in Tulsa at the age of 74. Sandra grew up in St. Louis and attended St. Francis De Sales Catholic School, where she met her future husband, Raymond Joseph Ruess, when they were in kindergarten. Sandra attended The University of Tulsa where she graduated summa cum laude while earning her Bachelor’s of Science degree in psychology. Sandra and Ray were married November 7, 1959 at St. Francis De Sales Church in St. Louis. The family, including daughters, Michelle Rae and Geralyn Rene spent time living in St. Louis, MO, Vienna, VA, Kansas City, MO and Tulsa, OK. Sandra worked outside the home throughout her life, including positions at Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance and the Gordon Tyler Co. in Tulsa before retiring in 2005 as an insurance representative for the Uniformed Services Benefit Insurance Association in Kansas City, MO. Sandra was active in her community, most recently serving as an officer in the Tulsa Mrs. Club affiliated with the Tulsa Men’s Club. She was an active volunteer with Neighbor for Neighbor, Meals on Wheels and adult literacy programs. Sandra was an enthusiastic member of the Church of the Resurrection, singing in the choir, leading parish events and organizing successful fund-raisers to benefit a disabled parishioner and his family. Sandra is survived by her husband of more than 55 years, Ray; daughters, Michelle of Morrisville, PA and Geralyn of St. Louis, MO; grandson, Joseph (Jake) McNichol, a junior at Washington University in St. Louis; sister and brother-in-law, Sharon and Bruce Findlay of St. Peters MO; sister-in-law, Maria Sobzcak and brother-in-law, Robert Sobzcak of Victoria, TX; niece, Pamela Pflueger James and her husband, Michael James of Scottsdale, AZ; nephews, Val Pflueger of St. Louis, MO. Douglas Pflueger of Columbia, MO; Erik Seibold of Jonesburg, MO; son-in-law, Paul Zych of Morrisville, PA; sister-in-law, Grace Pflueger of St. Louis, MO; as well as several great-nieces and great-nephews. Sandra was preceded in death by her mother and father; brother, Val Pflueger; son-in-law, Dunstan McNichol; mother- and father-in-law, Theresa and Charles Ruess; brothers-in-law, Charles and Timothy Ruess; as well as grandparents, several cousins and her faithful sheepdog, Willie Bite. A funeral mass will be celebrated 10:00 a.m. Monday March 30, 2015 at Church of The Resurrection, 4804 S. Fulton Ave, Tulsa, OK. In lieu of flowers, friends may contribute in Sandra’s memory to Food for The Poor, 6401 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek, FL. 33073 or at www.foodforthepoor.org Ninde Funeral Directors, Brookside Chapel (918) 742-5556 www.ninde.com