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Ruth Ann Polston

August 31, 1928 - February 13, 2025

Visitation

Friday, February 21, 2025

From 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Locke at Tower Park

4140 Kimball Ave,
Waterloo, IA 50701

Celebration of Life

Saturday, February 22, 2025

Starting at 1:00 PM

Cedar Valley Church

3520 Ansborough Ave.,
Waterloo, IA 50701

Memorials

Life That Wins Ministry PO Box 357, Excelsior, MN 55331 - www.thelifethatwins.com

Ruth Ann Polston Obituary

Ruth Ann Polston 96, of Waterloo peacefully passed away on Thursday, February 13, 2025 at Wellspring Living surrounded by her family.

She was born in Walkerville, MI on August 31, 1928 and grew up in Shelby, MI on the shores of Lake Michigan. She received a degree in English from Marion College (now Indiana Wesleyan University) in Marion, IN.

At age 5, music began to define her life with the ability to hear a song and then play the tune. Her musical gifts were prominently used - from grade school through high school, then to college, and on to full time ministry.

Ruth Ann met her husband, Don Polston, at Marion College. Following graduation, they married on June 24, 1949 and served together for many years of ministry - Sims, IN; Fairmount, IN; San Antonio, TX; Waterloo, IA; and Indianapolis, IN.

In Waterloo, she began an interdenominational women's ministry called "Winning Women." Ministering to several hundred women locally, it expanded to a speaking ministry across America and several other countries. Ruth Ann has authored eight books.

After 30 years in Waterloo, IA, the Polstons retired and moved to Indianapolis where a vibrant ministry unfolded. Following Rev. Polston's death in 2014, Ruth Ann returned to Waterloo where she has lived at Friendship Village.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Rev. Don H. Polston, as well as her parents, John and Anna Huston, and her brothers, Merle, John and Arthur Huston.

Ruth Ann is survived by her beloved family: son, Stephen, (wife, Jean), granddaughter, Kelly (husband, Greg) Bollinger; great grandchildren - Quinn, Lacey and Rhett Bollinger; granddaughter, Jessica (husband, Trey) Davis, great grandchildren - Eleanor and Walter Davis; daughter, Ann Polston (husband, Will) Gourlay; grandson, Caleb (wife, Rachel) Lund, great grandchildren, Levi and Rosalyn Lund; granddaughter, Victoria (husband, Kevin) Funkhouser, great grandchildren, Anika and Oskar Funkhouser; and a sister-in-law, Margaret Huston.

A Celebration of Life Service will be at 1:00 PM, Saturday, February 22, 2025 at Cedar Valley Church 3520 Ansborough Ave., Waterloo. Family burial will precede the service at Waterloo Memorial Park Cemetery.

A Visitation will from 4:00 ~ 7:00 PM, Friday, February 21, 2025 at Locke at Tower 4140 Kimball Ave., Waterloo.

Memorials may be given to: Life That Wins Ministry PO Box 357, Excelsior, MN 55331.

The Life That Wins International Ministry was founded by Don and Ruth Ann. The family is expanding it to fulfil the gospel as directed by Jesus Christ to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel" (Mark 16:15) www.thelifethatwins.com.

View live stream of funeral services

Condolences

Our sympathies to your family. We will pray for your comfort.

Ron and Connie Peters

In memory of Ruth Ann Polston

Rebecca Fehsenfeld

Ruth Ann’s faith, encouragement, steadfast prayer, and example significantly impacted the woman in Christ I am today. She believed in Christ through me. She forever changed my life. May God’s comfort abound as you celebrate her life and rejoice that she’s in heaven with her Savior and husband.

Naomi Fehsenfeld Cowling

I will remember you and Pastor Polston with great affection

Jollene Thompson Slater

Sad to read about Ruth Ann’s passing. She and Don were great neighbors. She is now in Heaven with her beloved Don.

Jeanne Lugo

Ruth Ann impacted my life as a young pastor’s wife. The resources she wrote were a wonderful help for me to prepare women’s ministry events and Bible studies! I am most grateful for Ruth Ann’s life and ministry!

JoAnn Hinton

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