Ruth Carolyn Reinhardt

Ruth Carolyn Reinhardt, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend to all passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, May 6, 2023, in Austin, Texas. She recently celebrated her 82nd birthday. Her life was full of love, laughter and devotion to her family, friends, and most importantly, to her savior Jesus Christ.

Ruth was born on March 25, 1941 near Winchester, Texas to Edwin Herman Unger and Elsie Schmidt Unger. Ruth was baptized March 30, 1941 at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Winchester. Ruth attended St. Michael’s Lutheran Parochial School through eighth grade. In 1959 she graduated from Smithville High School.

On June 10, 1962, she married the love of her life Edward Reinhardt at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church. They began their married life in San Antonio where they welcomed their first son, Keith. They eventually settled in Austin, Texas where Dean completed their family and they joined Hope Lutheran Church. Ruth was active in the Church until the day of her passing where she spent the morning with the Hope Church Quilting Group working on prayer quilts and mission quilts. Through the years she served in many roles including: teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School; serving as secretary of the Sunday School and the Church Council; singing in the choir; and taking care of church buildings and working on the landscaping.

Ruth worked in doctor’s offices for several years before her sons Keith and Dean were born. She then concentrated on giving her family a warm home full of support, affection, and great food. Ruth nurtured her family and encouraged Keith and Dean to take advantage of the educational opportunities she was not afforded.

When her two boys were well established in school, Ruth began work at Motorola on a production line where she bonded integrated circuit chips to their packaging. She quickly advanced and moved into the assembly engineering department and the Thermal Lab where she made many life-long friends. The years working in the engineering department were greatly fulfilling and she thrived on all the challenges she encountered. She fondly remembered working on new equipment, being part of a team developing new packages for integrated circuit chips, and testing the performance of Motorola’s chips (and the chips of competitors) in the Thermal Lab. After 23 years at Motorola, she reluctantly retired in 1998. She became an active participant in the Motorola alumni association where she was able to continue her relationship with her friends.

Once retired, she stayed active supporting several volunteer groups, serving as a driver for “Drive a Senior” in Northeast Austin, making Bibles with Lutheran Braille Workers, singing as a member of the Church choir, and participating in the Prayer Quilt Group. She also worked part-time for Texas Legislative Service during Texas Legislative Sessions. Ruth’s many passions included a love of gardening, quilting, traveling, and her grandchildren.

Ruth is survived by her husband of almost 61 years Edward and her children and their spouses: Keith and Kelly Reinhardt of Kingwood, Texas; Dean and Janie Reinhardt of Colorado Springs, Colorado; her beloved grandchildren Caroline Cusimano (Christopher), Kathryn, Joshua and Emma. Ruth is also survived by her sister Louise Hohle, brother Paul Unger, sisters-in-law Ruth Pietsch, Frances Zgabay, Violet Frosch, and Angie Frerichs, brothers-in-law Norbert Pietsch, Melvin Zgabay, Ken Sistare, James Frerichs, and many beloved cousins, nephew and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Edwin H. Unger, Jr.

A visitation for Ruth will be held Tuesday, May 16, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78752. A funeral service will occur Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at 10:00 AM at Hope Lutheran Church, 6414 N. Hampton Dr., Austin, Texas 78723. A graveside service will occur Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at 11:30 AM at Cook-Walden/ Memorial Hill Cemetery, 14501 North IH-35 Frontage Road, Pflugerville, Texas 78660.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com for the Reinhardt family.