Kofa High graduate is new Wellton postmaster

Kofa High School graduate Stephanie Ruch became the new postmaster in Wellton Thursday morning.

As postmaster, she will be in charge of all postal employees serving Wellton.

"I am very excited about becoming postmaster," Ruch said in an interview shortly after being sworn into the job.

She has worked for the U.S. Postal Service for more than 20 years. Most recently she was the postmaster in Gadsden, a position she held since 1999.

Ruch said that even though she enjoyed working in Gadsden and liked her customers, she wanted the challenge of a larger post office.

Wellton, Ruch said, is growing. Ruch said that as postmaster she will be adding new routes to accommodate the growth.

"The employees here are great and we are all going to work together to provide a high level of service to the community, both in the post office and on our routes," Ruch said. "We are challenged with a lot of growth in this area, but we are confident that we are equal to the challenge and will put all of the necessary procedures in place to accommodate the growth."

Ruch began her career at the Yuma Post Office as a city carrier in August 1984.

"Not a good time of year to begin a carrier position in Yuma," Ruch said.

After four years of delivering mail, she became the postmaster's secretary, a job she held for 10 years. Through that position she became a certified examiner, administering the postal exam many times, gave new employee training to new hires and was an acting supervisor in finance and delivery.

When her Yuma supervisor, Gretchen Dowding (now postmaster in Somerton) became the postmaster in Wellton 10 years ago and told her how wonderful it was to be a postmaster in a small office, Ruch started working toward that goal.

In January 1999, Ruch was promoted to the position of postmaster in Gadsden. There she became a postmaster trainer.

"I loved the Gadsden Post Office," Ruch said. "I had wonderful customers and will miss them very much."

"The Gadsden Office was always very successful, and I give much of the credit to Margie (Lopez, who held the position of a postmaster relief)."

Ruch is one of three women who have recently become postmaster. Diane Merrill became postmaster in San Luis on Wednesday and Linda Frank Funk became postmaster Thursday.