Obituary of Ruth Crow

Ruth (nee Bingham) Crow, age 97, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.  She was born May 19, 1929, in Chariton, IA, daughter of John and Sylvia (nee Edwards) Bingham.  Ruth grew up on the family farm with her twelve siblings and attended the country school “Brush College”.  She graduated from Chariton High School in 1948.

          At Mason, a country church near Chariton, Ruth learned of Jesus’ love and received salvation.  She attended the Chariton Church of the Nazarene while in high school and learned how to live as a Christian.

          On September 8, 1951, Ruth married Lynn Hoffman Crow, son of Raymond and Hazel Crow, at the Chariton Church of the Nazarene by Pastor H.E. Hegstrum.  First living in Iowa City while her husband finished his degree, she then joined him in Baltimore, MD in 1953 after he was inducted into the ARMY.  Ruth worked at a publishing company while her husband was stationed at Fort Holabird. 

          Upon Lynn’s discharge in 1954, they moved to St. Louis, MO where she worked at an aircraft company and helped him while he attended Logan Chiropractic College.  They moved back to Iowa City in 1957 upon his graduation.

          Wherever she was, Ruth became involved in the Lord’s work.  She taught for three years in Baltimore, was active in the Missionary Society in St. Louis, and served as President of the Missionary Society for 15 years while in Iowa City.  She taught first-third grade Sunday school at the Church of the Nazarene in Iowa City.  She was a founding member of the Christian Woman’s Club and a member of the Bible Study Fellowship.  Throughout the years, she has reached out to many students at the University of Iowa who attended the Nazarene Church, taking dozens over to their home around the dining table or after evening church service. 

          Ruth is survived by her son Steven (Jennifer), son-in-law Mark Blankenship, grandsons Peter (Rachel) Blankenship, Michael (Shannon) Blankenship, and Clayton Crow, along with five great-grandchildren.  Also surviving is her younger brother Clinton Bingham and many nieces and nephews.

          Ruth is preceded in death by her beloved husband Lynn, two daughters, Linda Sue Crow and Rev. Karen Blankenship, five brothers:  Lloyd “Buss”, Raymond, Harold Lee, John Jr., Donald, and five sisters: Irma Irving, Mable Holmes, Edith Lanning, Veda Miller, Doris Kline, Betty Hixson, along with many nieces and nephews.

Visitation followed by funeral services will be held at the Greater Iowa City Church of the Nazarene, 1035 Wade Street, Iowa City on Saturday, May 30, 2026, with visitation from 9am till service time of 11am.  Interment will be at Memorial Gardens in Iowa City following the service.  In leu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to T.H.E. Mission Haiti (www.themissionhaiti.com), an educational scholarship program for children in Haiti.  To share a thought, memory or condolences, please visit Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Services website at www.gayandciha.com.