Ruth Lewis

December 19, 1928 - January 2, 2018

Ruth Lewis Bowling Green, KY (formerly Washington Twp, OH) Ruth Lewis passed suddenly January 2, 2018 at Bridgepointe at Village Manor in Bowling Green, KY. She was preceded in death by husband Dr. George Lewis; parents Rev. Maurice and Esther (Husman) Marling. Ruth is survived by her children Carol Watwood (Daryl, children Sarah Stephens (Nathan), Catherine, and Andrew), Franklin, KY; Robert Lewis, Appleton, WI (Laura Thomas), and David Lewis (Maureen McSharry, children Ian and Conrad Lewis, Mountain Lakes NJ); sister Carol Wright (Denver CO, daughters Tanya and Lisa), sister in law Margaret (Peg) Lewis (children Tom and Mary) of Ballston Spa, NY along with other extended family and many friends. Ruth Ellen Marling was born December 19, 1928 at home in a parsonage in Youngstown, Ohio. Later, the Reverend Marling moved his family to take a call on the Ohio River in Paducah, Kentucky, where they were flooded out of their home in January, 1937. Ruth recalled leaving home in a jonboat. Homeless and temporarily living with Husman relatives in Cincinnati, Ruth recalled being taken on tours of the flood damage there. Later, the family followed several depression-era Southern church calls, eventually moving to College Park, Georgia, near Atlanta, where she graduated from high school. Ruth then graduated from Transylvania University in Lexington, KY, where she belonged to Chi Omega sorority. After college, she took a job in Birmingham, AL, when she was introduced by friends to a newly-minted Ohio State University PhD graduate and WWII veteran working in Nashville, TN…George Lewis. Ruth and George courted for some time, Ruth often taking the Hummingbird Express train from Birmingham to Nashville to visit him. They were married by Rev. Marling July 10, 1954 in Jasper AL. The family relocated in 1955 to Chillicothe, OH for George’s new job with Mead Corporation, where their three children were born, and again in 1969 to Mead headquarters in Dayton, OH. Ruth was a skilled seamstress and to help the family budget did clothing alterations for Village Peddler clothing shop in Centerville OH, as well as making clothes for herself and her granddaughters. They were very social and hosted countless parties for friends in their home. Ruth and George were avid travelers, taking many trips together before and after retirement throughout the US, Canada, Europe, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and their favorite…the Kona Coast of Hawaii, where they wintered for over 20 years. Ruth became an expert at Hawaiian quilting, sharing her beautiful work at many Big Island quilt shows, and giving many quilts, throws and pillows to proud family members. Ruth loved music, was a talented pianist with a wonderful singing voice, and sang for many years in church choirs. She especially enjoyed organ music, and one of her favorite musical experiences was hearing the magnificent organ at Dom St. Stephan in Passau, Germany. Ruth was a dedicated member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Dayton for over 25 years and especially enjoyed their musical and choir programs. Ruth will be sadly missed by her family and friends. According to Ruth’s wishes, there will be no funeral and she will be interred beside George at David’s Cemetery, Kettering, OH. The family will arrange a memorial service at a later date to be announced.