Ruth Raymond Thone, 86, of Lincoln passed away on May 3, 2018 after a brief illness. Born November 21, 1931 in Scottsbluff, Nebraska to Jack L. and Ruth (Thaxter) Raymond. Writer, teacher, and community activist.
Ruth authored three books: Women and Aging-Celebrating Ourselves (Haworth Press); Being Home, Collected Essays; Fat: A Fate Worse Than Death (Haworth Press); and countless articles for newspapers and magazines.
Ruth was a commentator for over five years on Nebraska Public Radio; a bi-weekly columnist in the Neighborhood Extra, and wrote weekly columns for several years for the Lincoln Star and Omaha World-Herald. She was a Nebraska Humanities Committee scholar/speaker; and led classes in Women & Aging, Women & Appearance issues, Self-Esteem, Values Realization, Negative Criticism, and Writing.
She was active in community and social justice organizations: a co-founder of the Gathering Place, house of hospitality and soup kitchen; co-founder of Friends of Loren Eiseley; and Alternatives to the Military in Lincoln Public High Schools. Active in Nebraskans for Peace; Palestine Solidarity Committee; anti-war coalitions; civil rights for Lesbians and Gays; Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty (awarded C.A. Sorensen award for NAPD in November 2000); Center for Rural Affairs; alcohol and drug recovery organizations; Lincoln Friends Meeting member; named the National Organization of Women’s Nebraska Woman of the Year, 1999; and honored as Nebraska Press Women’s Communicator of Achievement, 2014.
Former active member of Central American Response Team; Common Cause national board member and Nebraska Common Cause; Lincoln Junior League treasurer; Delta Gamma sorority; formerly president of Nebraska Society of Washington, D.C., and Congressional Wives Prayer Group leader.
Mother of Anna, nurse and photographer, Boston, MA; Marie, editor, Vancouver, British Columbia; Amy, actor and Shakespeare teacher, Seattle, WA and mother with husband Hans Altwies of Charlotte and Stella.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; husband Charles; sisters Jane Brown, Spokane, WA and Ann Kiddoo, San Rosa, CA; brothers – and sisters-in-law Cliff and Betty Thoene, George and Delores Thoene, and John and Rose Thoene, of Hartington and Bow Valley, NE.
Survived by her three daughters and two granddaughters; brother-in-law, Kaye Kiddoo of Santa Rosa, CA; and special niece Diane Thoene of Lincoln; and her other beloved nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, May 18, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. at Roper and Sons Chapel, 4300 ‘O’ Street.
There will be a casual Tea and Talk reception on Saturday, May 19, 2018 at the Lincoln Country Club from 12:00 noon until 2:00 p.m.
The family wishes to extend their deep gratitude to Bryan Hospital staff, Lincoln Home Care Consultants, and LifePointe Wellness.
Memorials to Nebraskans for Peace, The Friends Meeting, or The Gathering Place.