Mary Stewart Rutchow

Saying goodbye to Mary Rutchow, we pause to share a brief story of her life. Born Sept. 30, 1938, Mary Albor Stewart was the second child of Sara Kelso Stewart and William J Stewart. The family moved to Toledo, Ohio where Mary lived most of her life. She attended McKinley Elementary and DeVilbiss High School (1952-56). Those years gave her many special friends and experiences, including time as a Tigerette and director of the DeVilbiss Deviltries. She met the love of her life, Bill Rutchow, her senior year. Mary and Bill married following her graduation from Ohio Wesleyan University and remained married for 55 years. During that time, they raised a daughter, Mary and son, Billy. She taught 2nd grade, took classes in anthropology, crocheted prodigiously, played tennis, and worked as an assistant to a local realtor. Mary and Bill shared a life of love and humor. One of her favorite sayings: "There is always room for ice cream - because it fills in the cracks.” Due to her short stature, Mary was often regaled with short jokes, to which she replied, “Love a short person, get quality not quantity!”

Mary was preceded in death by her mother, Sara Stewart; father, William Stewart; brother, Dr. William Stewart, Jr.; and husband, William E. Rutchow. Surviving are daughter and son in law, Mary (Bruce) Morgan; son, Bill Rutchow; and grandchildren, Zachary and Hayley Rutchow and Anna and James Morgan; along with many wonderful members of the Rutchow and Stewart families, and friends near and far.

Friends will be received on Wednesday, October 5, 2022, from 3-7 p.m. at Walker Funeral Home, 5155 W. Sylvania Avenue, Toledo, OH 43623. A Graveside Service will be held on Thursday, October 6, 2022, at 10 a.m. at Ottawa Hills Memorial Park. Those wishing to attend the graveside are asked to meet inside the Central Avenue gates of the cemetery at 9:45 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Freedom School at Monroe Street United Methodist Church or the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD).