Ruth Lynn Guetterman

Mrs. Ruth Lynn Guetterman, age 85, of Martin, TN, died Monday, 10/03/2022, at Fort Loudon Medical Center, in Lenoir City, Tennessee.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, 10/14/2022, at 12:00 PM (Noon) at First Baptist Church, Martin, TN, with Dr. Mike Sams officiating, with burial to follow at East Side Cemetery.  Visitation will be after 10:00 AM at the church until service time.

Mrs. Guetterman graduated from Tennessee Temple University Class of 1960 with a degree in English.  She was a well-accomplished student athlete, playing on the women's university basketball team.  She excelled as a musician and mastered several instruments including the piano, organ, and trombone.  She met her then future husband Art at TTU, they married on August 30, 1957, and started their family.  During their life together, they planted Grace Baptist Church in Muncie, IN, which continues to thrive today.  They served their country in the U.S. Navy, with Ruth taking on the challenging supporting role of Chaplain's wife, all while raising 5 children, far from family, during Art's multiple year-long sea duty deployments, including multiple deployments during the Vietnam War.  Additionally, she served as an Adult Educator for the U.S. Marine Corps, helping service members obtain their high school diplomas.

She actively served in many churches throughout her life in the capacity of music ministry as organist, pianist, trombone player in the orchestra, adult choir, bell choir, and women's ensemble.  She also taught Sunday School, hosted Vacation Bible School and volunteered with Martha's Ministry.

Mrs. Guetterman's personal interests included supporting and managing her family's sports activities, and her lifelong passions were her love of Arabian horses as well as collies and Shetland sheepdogs.  She was an accomplished seamstress able to make the clothing for her family for many years.

Throughout her life, she loved God and His Word.  Two scriptures she leaned on were Isaiah 26:3 "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." and Psalm 37:4 "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."

Mrs. Guetterman was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur Adam (Art) Guetterman, her parents, Donald and Delilah Phillips Heidrick, her sisters Jean Lister and Marci Crowder, and brother Doug Heidrick.

Mrs. Guetterman is survived by: two sons, Lee (Drew) Guetterman, Lenoir City, TN and Bob (Lorrie) Guetterman, Anaheim, CA; three daughters, Karen (Ken) Kirkland, Martin, TN, Peggy (Dan) Olivas, Weatherford, TX and Kathy (Matt) Gentil, Springfield, VA; 12 grandchildren: Crystal, Karisa, Eric, Jennifer, Leecia, Samuel, Arlee, Jamin, Jonathan, Justin, Lindsey, and Grant; and 10 great-grandchildren.  She is survived by a sister, Mildred Hettmansberger, Macon, GA, and sister-in-law, Marilyn Heidrick, Danville, IL.

Flowers are appreciated and memorials may be sent to First Baptist Church Building Fund; 123 University Street; Martin, TN  38237.