Theresa "Ruth" Elaine Inman joined the world in the middle of a blowing snowstorm in her grandmother's house. She was born to the late Mathew and Elizabeth Reis on January 28, 1931 in Ecorse, Michigan alongside the winding Detroit River. Heaven's pearly gates opened to welcome her in on Friday, July 29, 2022 at the age of 91. She loved her family more than anything except for her Lord. Theresa gave her life to the Lord at the age of 11 and grew in her faith her entire life. She placed God first in her life.

Raised on the Michigan "prairie," Ruth (as her family called her) walked to a one room schoolhouse for her early education. She was diligent in helping out at home with the many chores, including cooking and helping her dad fix the farm's tractor and equipment. After graduating high school, she attended business college and kept up correspondence with the love of her life, Cecil Mark Inman whom she met at church in Saginaw. She and her sisters left the farm and went to work at AC Spark Plug in Flint, Michigan.

After Cecil finished college in Kankakee, Illinois, he began teaching in central Michigan. Theresa and Cecil married in 1957. They set up house and attended church together. After a period of time, the couple brought four children into the world. As part of the greatest generation having experienced the deprivations of the Great Depression and World War II, Theresa was in the habit of saving the best for everyone else. When it was time for her husband's additional schooling, she was there to help proofread and type his many papers and dissertation. Cecil's job as a teacher and professor took Theresa and the family from Michigan to Oklahoma to Ohio and back to Oklahoma again.

Theresa actively supported each of her children's interests and talents. She liked to brag that each of her children was unique; had their own talents and she had a musician, a doctor, a writer, and an artist—so fortunate to have "one of everything." She regarded it a high privilege to babysit for her granddaughter as her daddy worked his way through medical school.

Theresa was excellent with details of mathematics and accounting, so when the turbulent seventies put the squeeze on American families, she joined the many women who returned to work. She worked at Mount Vernon Nazarene College Office of the Registrar and then in Accounts Payable at Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City. Her determination and resolve helped get her through busy times. People admired her seemingly endless strength.

Theresa was active her whole life and didn't like to sit still. She was active in her church as a Sunday school teacher, Caravans Leader with Cecil, helping in the community with Easter Seals, and was a homeroom mother for all of her kids and did a lot of baking for fundraisers. She was a member of Lakeholm Ladies, Calvin Quilters, Lemont Writer's Club, and other sewing circles. She made baby quilts for the homeless each month, and had a keen eye for design and color. Theresa was able to take the homeliest fabric or the smallest scrap of fabric donations and turn them into beautiful quilts. She enjoyed cooking for family and friends. Her children and grandchildren will always remember her special Christmas cookies. She developed a love for writing later in her life, writing picture book stories, short stories, and poems. People described her as a sweet, giving and caring person.

Most people would be surprised to know that Theresa also loved sports. It started with watching golf with Cecil. She loved football games on Sunday afternoons regardless of the teams. She also loved the Chicago Blackhawks. In the summer, she could be found in front of the television watching the Chicago Cubs baseball team.

Later in her life, Theresa once again saved the best for her family. She was an amazing caregiver in her husband's battle with Alzheimers and was able to keep him at home with her during his struggle. She and beloved husband Cecil were married two months short of sixty years. She spoke often of reuniting with Cecil and her loved ones in heaven. Taking care of her husband, her family, and her dedication to her faith were her life's work.

She was a night owl and after the bustling house was quiet, she would sit down to either crochet or read through her cookbooks. But every night without question she read her much loved Bible. If she had trouble sleeping, she would run through her favorite hymns in her mind, singing until she fell asleep. She was a much loved mom, grandma, sister, and aunt. In her daily walk, Theresa exhibited a daily humility and Christian spirit. People admired her seemingly endless strength.

Beloved wife of the late Dr. Cecil M. Inman. Loving mom of Ruth Anne, Matthew David (Holly), Mary Elizabeth, and Martha Jean (Stephen Addis). Dear grandma of Alexandria Inman, Isabella Addis, Anastasia Addis, and Victoria Addis. Sweet aunt to numerous nieces and nephews. Cherished sister of Emma (William) Sageman. Preceded in death by three sisters, Virginia Miller (Bill), Betty Reis, and Ernestine (Roy) Ackley.

Visitation will be held at McCauley-Sullivan Funeral Home from 6:30-8 p.m. on Friday, September 16 in Bolingbrook, Illinois. The celebration memorial service will be held at Knox Presbyterian in Naperville, Illinois on Saturday, September 17 at 11 a.m.

Memorial donations may be made to The Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research,1820 W. Webster Ave., Chicago, IL 60613; www.stopsarchoidosis.org