Ruth Althea Hassink Grimm's Obituary
Grimm, Ruth Althea Hassink, passed away peacefully August 3, 2013, surrounded by loving family and friends. She was born April 22, 1930, in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, to Daniel and Dorothy Hassink, and grew up in the Cleveland area. Ruth attended a Plymouth Brethren assembly that had been established at the turn of the century with the help of her Hassink grandparents, who had emigrated from Holland. It was during special services there that she prayed to receive Christ as her Savior at nine years of age. Ruth graduated from Willoughby High School and attended Cleveland Institute of Art. On December 29, 1949, Ruth married her childhood sweetheart, Donald Eugene Grimm, and moved to the Baltimore area, where she taught Sunday School and did secretarial work while Don finished at Johns Hopkins University. After moving to Northern Virginia, they started a family and were active in a new church plant, Cherrydale Bible Chapel, in Arlington, VA. Ruth continued to be involved in children’s ministries, as well as using her talents as a pianist during services at the chapel. In 1962, the family moved to New Jersey, where they were active in Maplewood Gospel Chapel. After Don’s work transferred them to Dallas in 1975, they attended Believer’s Chapel, and then helped establish Community Bible Chapel. Ruth continued to be active in the women’s ministry there, serving on the Women’s Council for many years and leading the Titus II group. Throughout her life, she pursued her passion for music and art, expressing her gifts in piano, organ, and painting. Her greatest joy, though, was spending time with her family, especially her ten grandchildren. Ruth is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Donald Eugene Grimm; four daughters, Beverly Jean Grimm Burch (John), Patricia Susanne Grimm Baker (Gary), Carol Yvonne Grimm Floch McColl (Angus), Rebecca Lynne Grimm Novakovich (Steve); and ten grandchildren, Karen Joy Burch, Anna Fu Huan Burch, Travis Jonathan Baker, Lindsay Grace Baker, Bethany Joy Floch Kim (Jonathan), Robin Michelle Floch, Emily Caroline Floch, Michael Donald Novakovich, John Stephen Novakovich, and Katherine Grace Novakovich. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Benevolence Fund of Community Bible Chapel (Richardson, TX), or the Student Tuition Aid fund of Trinity Christian Academy (Addison, TX). Please contact the family for Service information.
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