Ruth Slocum Rosenau

Ruth Slocum Rosenau, 84, of Simpsonville,SC stepped into heaven Wednesday morning on January 31, 2018, in Greenville, SC. Ruth Ellen Slocum Rosenau was born September 27, 1933 in the Central African Republic and was the fourth child of missionary parents John and Adda Slocum who served with Baptist Mid-Missions.

Graduating in 1955 with a B.A. in Education from Wheaton College, she taught for one year in Milwaukee, WI before entering the nursing program at Case Western University in Cleveland, OH where she earned her BSN in 1959. The following year, August, 1960, she was accepted by Baptist Mid-Missions of Cleveland, OH to serve in the Central African Republic as a nurse and was commissioned by her home and sending church, Cedar Hill Baptist Church of Cleveland, OH. In 1972 she earned her MA in Nursing/Midwifery from the University of Mississippi. Following her graduate studies, she wrote a basic midwifery text, published in both French and English, which has been used throughout Africa as a training tool for those with a limited knowledge of French and science. Ruth used this text to teach midwifery in C.A.R. and later in Ethiopia.

After many years in the C.A.R., Ruth, in 1983, felt led of the Lord to accept a position as Assistant Professor of Nursing at Cedarville College in Cedarville, OH where she taught nursing for 6 years.

At the age of 55, she married widowed missionary Bruce Rosenau on March 11, 1989, and the following September went to the Central African Republic where they served together until his death 19 months later. Ruth eventually relocated to Ethiopia where, during her 12 years there, she taught nursing at the Tigray Nursing School and English at the Mekele Institute of Technology. She also served as an editor for the Tigray Development Association on a magazine which chronicled the history, accomplishments, and opportunities of that organization.

Ruth enjoyed gardening, crocheting, baking, visiting with friends and neighbors, but mostly she enjoyed talking about the Lord.

Preceding her in death are a sister and both of her parents. Survivors include a step-daughter, Judith Ann Rosenau of Reinbeck, IA; a sister, Mrs. Lois Gipson of McMinnville, OR; a brother, Dr. John Slocum of Monroe, WA; and nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, March 1, at 10:00 a.m. at Fellowship Greenville, 3161 SC-14, Greenville SC 29615.
In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Baptist Mid-Missions, P.O. Box 308011, Cleveland, OH 44130-8011 or on line at www.bmm.org .