Proclaimed by her father to be a “true Democrat” for entering this world the same day as FDR’s inauguration, Ruth Ann was born March 4, 1933, to Worthy and Daisy (nee Fortney) Fowler in Follansbee, West Virginia. She graduated from Follansbee High in 1951 and went to Ohio Valley General School of Nursing where she received her nursing diploma in 1954. She married her high school sweetheart, Clyde Kohout, on Dec. 26, 1953. They went on to have four children and settled in Tucson moving into a brand-new home during the same weekend as Woodstock. It’s the same home where she lived until her death.
Ruth Ann started her Tucson nursing career at St. Joseph’s Hospital and then went to the newly opened newborn intensive care unit at Tucson Medical Center in the late ‘60s. She later spent a few years as office nurse for pediatrician Martin S. Withers. Following his retirement, she returned to TMC to complete her career.
During her time at TMC, she was especially proud of earning her bachelor’s degree through distance learning from the University of St. Francis as well as becoming the first nurse in Tucson to earn IBCLC certification to teach and help moms breastfeed. She also was part of the first cadre of NICU transport nurses who traveled to outlying areas in Southern Arizona to get critically ill newborns to TMC for care.
After Clyde died in 1989, she went on to marry Dr. Philip E. Dew on Sept. 12, 1995, and they had 25 years of marriage before his passing in 2021. They loved to cruise the world and cheer on the University of Arizona softball and baseball teams.
In addition to her parents and husbands, Ruth Ann is preceded in death by son J. Keith Kohout. She is survived by children Clark (Vicki), Robert (Cindy) and Cheryl (Terri), sisters-in-law Kathy Underwood and Martha Saylor, cousin Patricia Duffey and Dew stepsons David, Tom and Jim (Mimi). She is also survived by five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandson with triplet great-great grandchildren due this spring. She leaves behind beloved nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and her well-loved furry critters Zoe, Whiskey and Tango.
The family extends a special appreciation to Vicki for her devotion in caring for Ruth Ann in her final years. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to TMC Hospice, which provided homecare for 18 months and then inpatient care at Peppi’s House for her final three days.
Services will be at East Lawn Palms Mortuary, 5801 E. Grant Road, on Tuesday, March 26, with visitation at 1 p.m., service at 2 p.m. and graveside burial at 3 p.m.
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