Ruth Ann Marie “Sis” Stein, 80, of Kimball Township, left us on Thursday, December 10, 2020 after a brief illness.
She was born June 27, 1940 in Port Huron to Frank and Eleanor Stein. She married Gerald Chrivia on October 6, 1987 in Las Vegas, Nevada. He passed on December 11, 2017.
Ruth graduated from Port Huron High School where she played basketball and softball. She passed this love of sports on to her grandchildren by teaching them and playing sports with them, including helping to teach all of them to swim in her pool. She would never miss one of their games or school activities. Ruth was also an avid bowler and earned numerous bowling awards throughout her bowling career. Ruth enjoyed going fast and raced stock cars on a ¼ mile oval dirt track. Every Saturday they would load up their stock car and travel to Owendale Speedway. Every season she raced, she would win the championship.
Ruth began working as a car hop at Ricky’s Drive-In Restaurant, where owner Russ Maes said she was the best car hop he ever had. She later worked in the bakery at Wadhams IGA and Sam’s Club. She was a beloved noon supervisor for many years at Sparlingville Elementary and also worked at south-end Kmart. Ruth loved going to her cabin in St. Helen, “Ruth’s Haven”, where she enjoyed riding the trails in the Geo Tracker looking for deer and other wildlife. Riding 4-wheelers on all day rides through the trails with her grandchildren, and spending time with them and her children, were some of her happiest moments at the cabin. She enjoyed her daily cabin ritual of sitting by the fire, reading her books, and watching the ORV’s head in and out of the trailhead. On her way home from up north, she was fond of stopping at the casino in Standish and also enjoyed playing the lottery and scratch-offs. She was an animal lover, and liked feeding and watching her backyard critters. A super active grandma, she loved that role most of all. Ruth was known for her “tell it like it is” personality. She had a sass about her that family and friends have always joked about and will always remember and miss.
She is survived by two children, Kenneth “Kenny” Kaufman and Leann (James) Roberts; three grandchildren, Madison (Justin) Bowles, Jonathon (Mary) Roberts and Buchanon Roberts; two step great-grandchildren, Kenzie and Lexi Bowles; two brothers, Robert (Bunny) Stein and Joseph (Leona) Stein; sisters-in-law, Vera Stein, Brenda Eschker, Sandy (Roger) Maes and Brenda Klaus; many nieces, nephews and cousins; her best friend, Sue (Pat) Dixon; and the father of her children, Leon (Gloria) Kaufman. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Phillip M. Stein, Kenneth F. Stein and Billy Eschker; two sisters-in-law, Donna Stein and Carole Stein; a niece, Carrie Eschker; and a brother-in-law, Larry Klaus.
Visitation will be 2-6 p.m. Sunday in Pollock-Randall Funeral Home. A limited number of visitors will be allowed at a time. Please wear a mask for the safety and comfort of others.
Family funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 14, 2020 in Pollock-Randall Funeral Home. Dr. Joseph Baunoch will officiate. Friends are welcome to view the funeral livestream on Ruth’s page of the funeral home website. All are welcome to gather in the funeral home parking lot at 11:30 a.m. for the procession to the cemetery and committal service.
Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Port Huron. Pallbearers will be Kenneth Kaufman, Jim Roberts, Madison Bowles, Jonathon Roberts, Buchanon Roberts, Stoney Stein, Debbie Stein, Duane Stein and Robert Foglesong.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family. To send condolences visit pollockrandall.com.
