Ruth Feldt Yarborough, age 89, passed away peacefully on April 19, 2022 at Monroe Hospice Home in Monroe, Wisconsin. She was a positive person who lived a full and exciting life.

Ruth grew up on the family beef farm in rural Green County near Schultz, Wisconsin and attended a one room school house (the Elmer School on the bend in Feldt road) through fourth grade, then attended Monticello Grade School until eighth grade. The family then moved to Monroe where she attended and graduated high school.   After her freshman year attending UW Stout, she transferred to Purdue University where she graduated with a B.S. in Home Economics with emphasis on Interior Decorating and Design.

In the fall of 1953, while at Purdue University, she met her future husband William Yarborough . At that time he was the conductor of the Purdue Orchestra, a faculty and student orchestra where Ruth played the French horn. They remained happily married for nearly 50 years.

Her professional life included work for Sears. She also taught home interior decorating classes in the various states of residence in IL, WI, MN and VA. Bill's professional life as a conductor took them to many locations for performance and career opportunities. She traveled with Bill when he was a guest conductor in Norfolk, Virginia; Traverse City, Michigan; Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and to overseas locations including Hawaii, London, Paris, Rome, Vienna and Bucharest. They also traveled for pleasure in the US and Canada.

For the majority of their married life they lived and worked in Washington D.C. Their happiest accomplishment was forming and maintaining the American Chamber Orchestra for 16 years. Venues where they performed included Anderson House, numerous embassies and the Kennedy Center.

When Bill's health declined, they moved to Madison in 2003 to be closer to family. After he passed, Ruth volunteered at the Overture Center for over eight years. She also organized the annual Geranium sale for the benefit of beautifying the Capital Neighborhoods downtown. Ruth had many friends from Metropolitan Place in Madison, who made up her fulfilling social circle. She loved celebrating birthdays and watching old movies with her friends.

Ruth is survived by her sister Kathleen (Hans) Sulzer of Monroe, and her nieces and nephews: Mary, Mike, Jane, Jim, Scott and Stacy. She is further survived by great nieces and nephews: Nicole, Sarah, Paul, Mark, and Jakob and one great-great niece; Remiee. She was preceded in death by her husband, brother Wallace K. Feldt and her parents.

The family wishes to thank the caring personnel of Meriter Hospital, Agrace Hospice in Janesville, WI and Monroe Hospice Home. A Celebration of Life will be held at Zwingli UCC, Monticello WI on Friday, June 3rd at 2pm.  The Rev. Lance Smith will officiate.