Gwendolyn Louise Grow Ruckman, who taught elementary school throughout Virginia for 35 years, died peacefully in Lexington, Virginia on May 20, 2018.

She was 95.

Gwendolyn was born May 14, 1923 in Lexington, to Herbert Leslie Grow and Mary Louise Link Grow.

She met her husband, the Rev. Lee Van Ruckman Jr., when his father was pastor at Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church in Rockbridge County. At the time she was attending Madison College, working toward her teaching degree.

Gwen enjoyed working alongside her husband as he pastured congregations in Albemarle County, Fairfax, Emporia, Chatham, Hampton, Callao, Vienna, Crozet, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and Portsmouth. She taught elementary school in all of these communities.

When Gwen and Lee Van retired, they fulfilled a long-held dream to build a home on the family farm where she had grown up. In retirement she continued to stay active, teaching bible classes to elementary students, working in her church, enjoying travel in the U.S. and abroad, and maintaining a beautiful garden.

Devoted to her family, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Lee Van, her son-in-law, Dr. Alan Pearce, and brothers, Harold Newman Grow, Edwin Marshall Grow, and Hugh Franklin Grow.

She is survived by her children, Karen Ruckman of Washington, D.C., and Van Ruckman and his wife, Barbara of Williamsburg; her grandchildren, Christopher and Shaun Ruckman and Emma Pearce; her sister, Nancy Jane Grim; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, June 24, 2018 at 2 p.m. at Harrison Funeral Home. Internment will be private. The family will receive friends at the funeral home before the service at 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Gwen's memory may be made to the Glasgow Food Pantry, P. O. Box 374, Natural Bridge Station, VA 24579 or the Rockbridge Historical Society, P. O. Box 1409, Lexington, VA 24450.

Arrangements are by Harrison Funeral Home and Crematory.