Ruth A. Gros

Ruth A. Gros, age 94 passed away at her residence in Clarksville on March 2nd, 2016. She was born on April 6th, 1921 in Allenstein, Germany to the late Erich Karl and Anna Amalie Lange Borkowski. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband, Oskar Gros in 1994; three brothers, Heinz Harnack, Rudi and Dietrich Borkowski; five sisters, Elsa Unrau, Henny Czarnowski, Giesla, Annelore and Rosemarie Borkowski and one grandchild.

In World War II, she was a Red Cross nurse and she owned and operated both ballroom dance studios and restaurants. Her passions were music, cooking, and the company of family and friends. She relocated to Clarksville in 1998 where she was a member of the Clarksville Edelweiss Club and Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church. She was a pillar of strength and was the backbone of five generations of family.

She is survived by two sons, Wolfgang Thoma of Munchen, Germany and Fritz Thoma of Hanau, Germany; two daughters, Heidemarie Ruth Smith of Clarksville and Roswitha Evans of Oklahoma. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren including John Makowski, Angelia Strickland, and Michaela Hoosier all of Clarksville; and Patricia Manyik of Colorado, Kaci Evans of Oklahoma, Michael Wade and Cici Hibbits of California, Hanna Herman of Texas; 14 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, March 7th at 2:00 p.m. at the Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, 2526 Whitfield Road, Clarksville; with Pastor Matt Brown officiating.

Arrangements entrusted to Gateway Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 335 Franklin Street, Clarksville, TN 37055. Phone 931-919-2600. Online condolences may be left at www.gatewayfh.com.