Ruth Courtright Holznagel

Oct. 7, 1932 – April 7, 2024 - Ruth Holznagel, teacher, musician, lover of Oregon and beloved elder to family and friends, died April 7 at her home at Judson Park, Cleveland. She was 91.

Ruth was born on the family farm in Eastern Oregon, went to a one-room school, and graduated from La Grande High School in 1949 and Eastern Oregon College of Education in 1953. She wed Bob Holznagel in 1954. They were married for 64 years. Ruth taught mostly third and fourth grades in Parkrose and Forest Grove, also taking a decade off to raise her sons, Hans and Ryan.

Ruth was an accomplished pianist, and she and Bob were longtime choir members at Forest Grove United Church of Christ. They also wrote living histories featuring Forest Grove founders Harvey Clark and Tabitha Brown and performed them throughout the state. Ruth was active in the PEO philanthropic sorority, loved going to the beach and chatting with neighbors, was the go-to host for birthdays and family events, and was a friend to cats and chickadees everywhere.

Ruth is survived by her sons, Hans Holznagel (Kathryn Harlow) of Cleveland, Ohio, and Ryan “Fritz” Holznagel (Julie Corwin) of Somerville, Mass.; her sisters-in-law, Jean Holznagel, of Portland, Ore., and Christine Courtright of Island City, Ore.; her brothers-in-law, Gary Holznagel, of Hillsboro, Ore., and Lee Graham of La Grande; grandchildren, Clifton Holznagel of Portland and Alyssa Holzkloos (David) of Cleveland; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Don McKee, in 1953; by Bob, in 2018; by her parents, Grace and Gilbert Courtright; and by her five brothers and sisters.

A memorial service and reception for Ruth will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 1, at Forest Grove UCC. Private interment will be at Fir Lawn Memorial Park in Hillsboro. For those wishing to make memorial donations, the family suggests Forest Grove UCC (fgucc.org), PEO (peointernational.org), or Friends of Historic Forest Grove (fhfg.org).