Ruth Ann Lubbers

Ruth Ann Lubbers completed her journey home to her Heavenly Father on the morning of March 19, 2026. At the time of her passing, she was a resident of Story Point Memory Care and was surrounded in the peace and love of her family and some of her favorite caregivers.

Although Ruth called Kalamazoo her home for the past twelve years, she was born in Patterson New Jersey and raised in both New Jersey and later in North Olmstead, Ohio. Ruth attended Hope College in Holland , Michigan where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Art and English. While at Hope, Ruth was an active member and president of the Sigma Sigma Sorority, studied and Vienna Summer School and met Bruce Lubbers who would become her lifelong partner and best friend.

Ruth and Bruce married in 1967 and moved to Zanesville, Ohio where Ruth taught English while Bruce completed his Master’s Degree. The two moved to Muskegon, Michigan where they both began their careers in Education. Ruth taught Art and English and night school to at-risk high schoolers. Ruth and Bruce welcomed their son Mark in 1971 and later a daughter, Sarah, in 1975.

Ruth’s career shifted from teaching to Art’s Administration when she was hired as the Coordinator of the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District’s Art’s Programming where she served for three years.

In 1980 while visiting Bruce’s brother in Salt Lake City, Utah, Ruth and Bruce fell in love with the mountains and beauty of Utah and took at leap of faith, packing up their lives and moving their family to a place that they would call home for the next thirty years. Ruth initially focused her energies on being a wife and mother while Bruce established a new career in business. The Art world quickly came calling though. Ruth made a name for herself as an active volunteer with the Salt Lake City Arts Center, she and two friends started Retrospective Inc. (a non-profit dedicated to erecting retrospective shows for renowned Utah artists). Ruth was also instrumental in starting the Utah Gallery Stroll.

In 1998, Ruth was hired to be the Executive Director of VSA Arts/Art Access Gallery, a national non-profit arts organization once connected to the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. Ruth’s name became synonymous with Art Access, curating eight gallery shows a year, plus providing programming for a multitude of underserved populations. Ruth once said, “The arts are one of the best ways to bring people together. The arts celebrates differences and celebrates diversity”. Ruth believed that new voices as well as previously ignored voices had important and unique ways of seeing and creating art, and that the mainstream community benefitted immeasurably by looking and listening. Ruth was most proud of her “Partners” mentoring program where underserved artists on the threshold of important work were matched with mentors who were established professional artists – the duos would learn from each other side-by-side and their partnerships would culminate with a Partner’s gallery exhibition.

During her eighteen year tenure as the Executive Director of Art Access, Ruth received several accolades and awards, most notably, The Utah Governor’s Award in the Arts, The Cathedral of the Madeline Award for Arts and Humanities and The Salt Lake City Mayor’s Award for the Promotion of the Arts. Ruth was also a key participant and host for the Cultural Olympiad when Salt Lake City hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics. She was presented with an honorary Olympic torch from the Salt Lake Olympic Organizing Committee, recognizing her efforts.

In 2015, Ruth and Bruce and their son Mark were feeling the pull of family in Michigan, especially the idea of being close to their three grandchildren. A retirement celebration in Salt Lake City sent Ruth on her way and a new chapter was started in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Ruth and Bruce built a beautiful new home in a community where many cherished friends were made. Ruth also adopted her rescue dog Lilly whose presence brought the family great joy in retirement. Ruth and Bruce were active members of First Presbyterian Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan and Ruth was often seen on the sideline of a sport’s field at one of her three grandchildren’s football, soccer or lacrosse games or involved in their various activities. Ruth especially enjoyed cultivating her Granddaughter Gracie’s love of the arts and the two loved any arts endeavor that they could share. Ruth and Bruce also enjoyed traveling the world together, taking eleven river and ocean cruises.

To say that Ruth will be greatly missed is an understatement. She was a beloved Wife, Mother, Grammy, Aunt and friend to many. She leaves a lasting legacy of love, humor, spunk and taught us all to see the beauty and art that surrounds us at all times.

Ruth Ann Lubbers was preceded in death by her parents, John and Phyllis Sytsma. She is survived by her husband Bruce Lubbers, her son Mark Lubbers, her daughter Sarah (Lubbers) Torrence and son-in-law Phil Torrence of Portage, Michigan: her grandchildren John-Mark Torrence and his fiancée Vanessa Ferreyra, Gracie Torrence, Benjamin Torrence, and her sister Jackie Pruitt (Floyd Pruitt) of Dunwoody, Georgia and many nieces and nephews.

Please join us at a Life Story Service on Saturday, May 16, 2026, 4pm at Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900. A Life Story Reception will following where food, drinks and stories will be shared. Celebrate Ruth Ann’s life online by sharing your favorite stories and photos on her dedicated webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com. Memorial contributions may be made to Animal Rescue Project, www.animalrescueproject.org.