Ruth Alice Koca

Ruth Koca, 85, formerly of rural El Dorado Springs, passed away at Lakepoint Nursing Center in Augusta, KS, on Sept. 4, 2017. Ruth was born on March 27, 1932, in Pineville the daughter of Harry Eberle and Nan (Mason) Eberle. She attended grade school and high school in Anderson.

Ruth attended Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg KS, and received her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education in 1954. She taught music in Florence, KS, and Anderson before accepting a position as Elementary Music and Orchestra teacher in El Dorado Springs in 1958. She married Paul Koca in 1962, and moved to the farm near Virgil City, where she lived until her health caused her to move to assisted living in 2012.

Ruth and Paul had two children: Mark and Jana. Ruth was the Elementary Music teacher at El Dorado Springs until 1978, when she retired due to health reasons. She stated that it “broke her heart” to have to quit teaching. Ruth was well known for her hard work and dedication to music. Her music programs at the school were enjoyed by thousands of people over the years. She taught Orchestra, was the Choir Director at First Christian Church, and played the trumpet, directed and sang with the El Dorado Springs Municipal Band for over 40 years.

Ruth was a highly creative person, loved making clothing and quilts for her family, and dabbling in arts and crafts. She was an avid gardener. She loved tending the hundreds of flowers she planted around the house and cared for a huge vegetable garden which not only kept her immediate and extended family well fed, but extended to the community – she was well known for showing up at church with grocery sacks of vegetables and jelly to give away. Ruth did a lot of volunteer work in the community. She held weekly music sessions at the Nursing Home for many years and worked many days at the hospital for the Hospital Auxiliary.

Preceding Ruth in death were her husband, Paul; her parents; her brothers, Don Eberle and Max Eberle; her sister, Joy Eberle; and two nieces.

Survivors include her children, Mark Koca and his wife, Jennifer, of El Dorado Springs and Jana Robinson and her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Emily, of Andover, KS; granddaughter, Tegan Rand, her husband, Josh and their children, Harrison and Ellison, of Republic; grandson, Alan Koca, his wife, Megan, and their son, Lincoln, of El Dorado Springs; and Evan Robinson of Lenexa, KS.

Services were held on Saturday, Sept. 9,  in the First Christian Church with Pastor Jack Daniel officiating. Debbie Vickers, Nathan Vickers and a trumpet trio (Ron Marsh, Gary Hardison and Ethan Roberts) provided music. Interment followed in the Virgil City Cemetery under the direction of Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home.

Pallbears were Kent Renfro, Dan Eckard, Mike Koca, Jim Eberle, Doug Eberle and Dan Eberle.

Memorial donations may be made to the First Christian Church Elevator Fund and left at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be left at www.blandhackleman.com.