On Sunday, June 30th 2024, Ruth Elsa Cropper (née Kinkel) passed away at home after a sudden illness.
Ruth was born in Mansfield Ohio, February 11th, 1959. She was the eldest child of Walter and Gizella Kinkel. She was brilliant and precocious, and excelled at all the schools she attended. She briefly attended Culver Academy in the first years girls were allowed to attend, then graduated from Malabar High School in 1976. She then spent a year at Neufchâtel Jr. College in Switzerland. She originally studied Art History at Oberlin College before moving to NYC to study Fashion Design at Parsons.
After graduating from Parsons, she continued to live in NYC for the greater part of the 80’s. She worked in sales, and then as an accessories buyer, for Bergdorf Goodman; all the while traveling between Vermont and Mansfield to continue to support the family knitting business. Always standing out in a crowd, even in NYC she was referred to as “Little Miss Strange.” Ruth returned to Mansfield in 1989, where she threw herself into her other passions: such as. gardening; designing; and entertaining. After the North American Knitting Factory closed, she became a freelancer; designing and planting gardens, flower arranging, as well as catering and entertaining.
Ruth married Daniel Cropper (of Mansfield) in October, 1992. She then gave birth to their only child in June, 1993. Tragically, in November, 1998, only 6 years into their marriage, Dan suddenly passed away. As a single mother, she worked tirelessly to support herself and her daughter, as well as the needs and whims of her parents.
She was heavily involved in local organizations, such as Wednesday Study Club, Garden Club, and was a board member for Kingwood Gardens and the Mansfield Art Center. Even from a young age she volunteered for the Balls at the Art Center. She continued giving her time and skills for openings and events.
Ruth was a passionate woman with strong beliefs and vocal opinions. Above all else, she desired a life and world full of beauty. Her spirit expressed itself through a kaleidoscope of pursuits and passions. Through a lifelong commitment to the natural world, she brought love and creativity to the beautiful gardens she designed and raised. She was a human herbarium; able to identify the Latin name and give the historical or medicinal use for any and all plants ever asked of her. Ruth possessed an irrepressible spirit that burned brighter and longer than any limited human life could hope to contain.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Daniel Laban Cropper, and her parents, Walter and Gizella “Gizie” Kinkel. She is survived by her brother, John Kinkel; and her daughter, Julia “Boo” Cropper; Boo’s fiancé, Bennett Hudson; and her dog, Winston.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to support Ruth’s passions; the Mansfield Art Center or Kingwood Gardens.

Funeral Home: Snyder Funeral Homes

Website: https://www.snyderfuneralhomes.com/