RUTH DELORIS CAVENDER

    Ruth Deloris Cavender, 81 of Mesa, Arizona, passed away July 20, 2014 in Mesa.
    Ruth was the seventh child born on a farm in Adams County, Iowa to Emory Leon and Edna Nora Powell on January 15, 1932. She went to school in Redding, Iowa and graduated in 1951. She married Leroy Onley in 1952; they lived in Lenox where she worked at the dry cleaners for two years. They divorced in 1953. Ruth moved to Mount Ayr and worked for Sky and Ollie Humphrey as a waitress. Ruth went on to own four cafes in Mount Ayr before moving to Arizona and starting another cafe.
    In 1969 Ruth married Pete Cavender, the two of them started Ruth’s Steak House west of Mount Ayr and owned and operated the Skating Rink and Car Wash. For fun and relaxation they spent time at their cabin at the Mount Ayr Lake. In 1980 they bought and operated The Office restaurant and bar. In 1982 Pete passed away of cancer.
    In 1983 Ruth moved to Mesa Arizona, where she started the Iowa Café. In 1993, Ruth held a fundraiser at the Iowa Café that raised over $8,000 for flood victims of Iowa. Ruth presented the money raised to Governor Brandstad.
    Ruth is best known in Mount Ayr for her cinnamon rolls and in Mesa she was known for her pies.
    She was preceded in death by her husband Pete; her parents; two brothers Hurley and Dale Powell; four sisters and their husbands Leona (Everett Bolinger), Lois (George Austin), Alice (Gene Reimer) Lela (Howard Brown); brother in-law Arvid Woollums; niece Pamela Starnes; nephew Eddie Dale Powell. 
    She is survived by her children Dean (Cindy) Cavender, Janice Cavender, Jerri Worthington, Gary Cavender and Scott Cavender; Sister Shirley Woollums; sisters in-law Pauline Cressel and Virginia Powell; and many grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
    Graveside services will be held 11 a.m., Saturday, August 9, 2014 at Rose Hill Cemetery. Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr is in charge of the arrangements.