I got to know Ruthie when she and her mom lived so close to my mom in Leisure World. Loved her wit and smile! I remember the move after the fire, and that she was with her brother’s family – heartwarming that she ended her days in such comfort and great surroundings! I know you’ll all miss her thoughts, smile, and love.

I worked with Ruthie and Phil on the farm in Delaplane for 2, extremely fun summers in the early 70s. With Phil’s friend and us, the 4 of us had such fun. I still have a collection of her Christmas cards. They are a treasure. When I stayed at my brother’s house in Silver Spring once to dog sit, I came to visit her at Leisure World. At that point, her mother had passed. She threw some food together, having no clue what to do and fed me. Her thing was nature and art, not cooking! She called me when her brother died. She was devastated. I heard about the fire and knew she moved to Colonial Beach with her sister. I miss knowing she is on this earth. She was a very special, unique friend.

It’s sad to hear Cousin Ruthie is gone. She was a loving and compassionate person, and we enjoyed the times (too infrequent) when we got to chat with her. Her Aunt Janet, Jim’s mom, loved to hear from Ruthie (what we called her from when the whole family got together at Grandma Spellerberg’s when we were children). Her Christmas cards were a highlight of the season. Her life was well lived, but we’ll miss her.