Ruth Esther Cannella (nee Armentrout) was born in Colorado Springs on October 9, 1918 to Edwin and Anna May Armentrout. She died in Colorado Springs on June 28, 2016. Her family were original homesteaders in Ute Pass. Ruth grew up in Green Mountain Falls and graduated from Colorado Springs High School (now Palmer High School) in 1936. She and her sister, Lois LaHaye, operated a beauty shop on Busy Corner (Pikes Peak and Tejon) in downtown Colorado Springs for many years. Ruth decided to become a nurse during WWII and attended Seton School of Nursing, graduating in 1946. She worked at the Colorado Springs Medical Center after graduating. Several years later she began working at Penrose Hospital where she was in charge of the recovery room and was affectionately known as “Army”. She retired from nursing around 1980. She met John Jack Cannella while working at Penrose. He was one of her patients as a result of a mine incident at Pike View Mines. They married on April 26, 1950. Their daughter, Kathryn was born in 1955.
She belonged to the Ute Pass Historical Society as well as the Daughters of the American Revolution, Kinnikinnik Chapter. A woman of faith, Ruth was a longtime member of First Lutheran Church. She loved her view of Pikes Peak and enjoyed touring the area. In later years, reading and crocheting filled her time. The local birds, squirrels, and deer loved her for the feeding garden in her front yard. She also enjoyed frequent visits from students, parents and teachers from Colorado Springs Christian Schools.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John; two brothers: Arthur and Edgar; and two sisters: Helen Longwell and Lois LaHaye.
She is survived by her daughter, Kathryn and husband Bill of Enid, Oklahoma; granddaughter, Erin Mazur and husband Will of Fairfax, Virginia; grandson, “BJ” Baxter of Enid, Oklahoma; great-granddaughter, Adaline Mazur of Fairfax, Virginia; nieces: Deborah Taylor of Colorado Springs and Judy Woodruff of Santa Maria, California; and grandnephew, Jeremy Taylor of Colorado Springs.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 2, 2016 at First Lutheran Church, 1515 North Cascade Avenue.
In lieu of flowers, Ruth would appreciate donations to First Lutheran Church, Ute Pass Historical Society, or Colorado Springs Christian Schools.
Online Condolences:
ShrineOfRemembrance.com