Ruth Ada Winterhalter, 82, of Centerville, Ohio, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, September 27, 2026. A beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and sister, she is survived by her husband, Paul; three daughters; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and her brothers, Robert “Bob” Bohné (Cleveland) and his wife, Janie, and Richard “Rick” Bohné (Cincinnati) and his wife, Janet. Ruth was born in Niles, Ohio, on October 11, 1943.

Ruth attended Niles McKinley High School in Niles, Ohio. At the University of Dayton, she met Paul Winterhalter, a Flyer basketball player, and upon graduation she married Paul, the love of her life. University of Dayton is where their story began and lasted 61 beautiful years.

Ruth was a devoted and loving mother to her three daughters and Nana to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Jill (with child Alec); Beth (husband Mike; children Matt, Jon, and Katie, and great-grandchildren Cameron and Wade, and mother Casey); and Amy (husband Chad; children Ellie and Jack).

Ruth greeted everyone she met with a compliment and a warm smile. She never met a stranger and literally wrote the book on hospitality. Friends and family experienced her endless generosity and gigantic heart. Her strong faith and unconditional love defined the way she lived, and she believed fiercely in the power of prayer. Family was everything to Ruth. She adored her three brothers and looked forward to the “infamous Bohné reunions” in Chicago and Cincinnati each year. She lit up when she spent time with her grandchildren - -they were her pride and joy.

Ruth was an avid reader and loved to play golf and tennis. She enjoyed playing bridge and mahjong weekly with her longtime friends. Ruth was an enthusiastic cook and thoroughly enjoyed entertaining. She was a rabid University of Dayton Flyers fan and held season tickets for decades. It was a rare occasion if Ruth and Paul missed a home game. She wore her UD Flyers swag proudly and could be heard cheering loudly for the Flyers at the UD arena or at home. Nothing made her happier than when the Flyers brought home a win. Ruth was a fervent shopper and a born bargain hunter.

Ruth will be remembered forever for her kindness, warmth, and for making everyone feel at ease.

Ruth was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Bohné; her father, William Bohné; her oldest brother, William “Bill” Bohné and her son-in-law James “Jim” Fraggos.

Services

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 6245 Wilmington Pike, Dayton, Ohio 45459, where visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. prior to the start of Mass. Burial will follow Mass at Calvary Cemetery. If you are unable to attend, please visit the link to watch the Funeral Mass at https://www.olldayton.org/online.html

Donations

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Ruth’s honor to James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute.