- Date Of Birth: June 19, 1913
- Date Of Death: March 7, 2013
- State: New Jersey
Ruth W. Smith
June 19, 1913 – March 7, 2013
On March 7, 2013, of Collingswood, NJ. Age 99 years.Beloved wife of the late Rev. Alden T. Smith. Dear mother of Alden “Denny” T. (Theresa) Smith, Jr., Virginia M. (Jon) Egbert, Bonnie L. (Robert) Harley. Grandmother of 8 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. She is also survived by a brother, Rev. Ira Wheatley and a sister, Mary Virginia Damonte. Predeceased by a brother, Bishop Melvin E. Wheatley and a sister, Gertrude Wilson.Born in Burrsville, MD in 1913, into a family steeped in Methodism, reaching back to the American Revolution and grew up on the Delmar Peninsula, Ruth was educated as a teaching Deaconess in Washington D.C., serving as Youth Director at Foundry Church in the 1930’s. She also served in racially diverse neighborhood pre-schools in Wilmington and Pittsburgh and later, at age 51, earned her Bachelor’s degree form William Paterson University, then New Jersey State Teacher’s College at Paterson. Mrs. Smith taught Kindergarten for many decades, first at Number 5 School in Garfield and then at Number 8 School in Passaic.Ruth married Rev. Alden T. Smith in 1939. Together they served Methodist parishes in Gladstone-Peapack, Union, Little Falls, Passaic and Bloomfield, NJ, until Rev. Smith’s retirement in 1977. Both Civil Rights and Ecumenicism were causes she and her husband heralded through words and actions during their pastorates.Ruth Everett Wheatley Smith was active in Church life on local, district and conference-wide levels, as well as serving on the review board for the Methodist Board of Missions Committee in New York City, interviewing prospective missionaries in the 1960’s.For ninety-two years, Mrs. Smith played the piano for worship services. Among her many activities, she played the piano at fundraisers in the 1940’s to help build a Methodist Home in Ocean Grove, NJ.During her recent 16 year residency at the Collingswood Manor in Collingswood, NJ, Ruth W. Smith organized a singing group of residents who called themselves, “The Dreamers.” Her energy, love of life and genuine concern for those whose lives touched hers, inspired all who knew her, right up until the day she died.Relatives and friends are invited to visit with her family on Saturday, April 13, 9:30 to 10:30 AM in the Collingswood Manor Chapel, 460 Haddon Ave., Collingswood, NJ.
Ruth W.
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