Ruth Ann Proudfoot, 94, passed away on May 05, 2022, at Wellmore in Tega Cay, South Carolina, surrounded by her friends and family.

Ruth Ann, born on February 19, 1928 to Alvin Christian Shumm and Thyra Vivian Shumm in Carthage Indiana, immediately brought joy and laughter into the world. Ruth Ann went on to graduate from Arsenal Technical High School in 1946 as an honor student. Her academic prowess earned her a scholarship to pursue a degree in Music Education at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

Ruth  Ann fell in love with the flute as a child, which led to her lifelong passion for music and the flute in particular. By age eight she played in the High School Band and took lessons with Mr. Francis Fitzgerald a member of the Indianapolis Symphony.  The lessons obviously paid off  when in seventh grade she placed first in the State Solo & Ensemble Contest and second in the National Solo & Ensemble Contest in Flint, Michigan.  

While a student at Northwestern, she continued her flute lessons under Emil Eck, principal flutist with the Chicago Symphony. She was accepted into the Chicago North Side Symphony, a proving ground for aspiring professional musicians.  In addition, she was inducted into Alpha Lambda Delta (music honorary society), Sigma Alpha Iota (music sorority),  played in the band and orchestra and sang in the choir.  In June of 1950, she received her Bachelor of Music Education Degree and was elected into Pi Kappa Lambda honorary society for four years of top academic achievement.

In addition to her musical and academic pursuits, Ruth Ann was very active socially as a member of Tri Delta sorority, Wildcat Council and cheered the Northwestern Wildcats all the way to the Rose Bowl.  Despite her busy schedule, she managed to find time to date a tall slender handsome young man who showed up at her doorstep after having seen her at a Sorority party. Ruth Ann and Allin Whitfield Proudfoot were married June 3, 1951.  Their 42 year marriage was a very busy time. They moved 14 times as Allin pursued his career and Ruth Ann raised  three children, Marcia, Alfred, and Malcolm.  Ruth Ann was a fiercely dedicated mom to all of her children instilling the values of faith and family first. During this time Ruth Ann entertained thousands of guests in her home, enjoyed a robust social life with life long friends, traveled to all 50 states and over 50 countries throughout the world. She was active in her church as well as countless clubs and charities. All the while, she continued teaching flute privately and performed in orchestras and music ensembles. (see community involvement for details)

Her lifetime of service, her dedication to education and music, her generous heart and love of life has left a hole that is impossible to fill. 

Ruth Ann was predeceased by her mother and father Alvin and Thyra Shumm;  and her husband, Allin W. Proudfoot.  She is survived by her sister Delores Curry and by her three children;  Marcia Corenman and Alfred Proudfoot of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Malcolm Proudfoot of Burr Ridge, Illinois. She was blessed with eight grandchildren; Brandon Corenman of San Diego, California, Katy Parise of Westmont, Illinois, Britney Turner of New York, New York, Tracey Corenman of Phoenix, Arizona, Brett Proudfoot of Chicago, Illinois, Corinne Baugh of Charlotte, North Carolina, Taylor Proudfoot of Chicago, Illinois and Kevin Proudfoot of San Francisco, California;  and six great-grandchildren under the age of five, Valerie and Tommy Baugh, Luca and Ava Parise,  Asher and Riley Turner.  

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Ruth Ann’s name to the National Society of Arts and Letters, an organization whose mission, to help promising young artists through competitions and scholarships, was dear to her heart. 

A private memorial will be held prior to burial at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois. Ruth Ann will be laid to rest beside her late husband, Allin Whitfield Proudfoot.

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