Ruth Marie Leftwich, 97 of East Washington PA passed away peacefully on the morning of February 10, 2023.  She was the last surviving child of Claude and Celestine Leftwich.

Ruth was a graduate of East Washington High School in 1943, distinguishing herself in both mathematics and archery.  She was also an active member of John Wesley United Methodist Church.  In the early 1950’s, armed with a keen eye for detail and a strong mathematics acumen, Ruth accepted a position in Cleveland with the Internal Revenue Service.  Ruth enjoyed career success and an active life as she traveled between the bustling industrial cities of Cleveland and Chicago. But, holding true to her belief in family and self-sacrifice for the good of others, Ruth shifted her focus and decided to return home to East Washington to assist with the care of her ailing mother.  It was at this point that Ruth took a position with the national clothing manufacturer ‘Bobbie Brooks’, where she worked for over a decade.  Ruth retired soon afterwards spending the majority of her later years with her sister Josephine in Pittsburgh.  Both sisters were active in the church group, “The Women’s AGLOW’, traveling all over the eastern half of the country forming friendships with similar persons of faith.

Ruth’s love and commitment to family was one of her strongest values and a theme that would repeat throughout her life.  She was a deeply spiritual woman, embodying the essence of kindness, civility, strength and loyalty.  Despite the ravages of age, diabetes and loss, her humanity never wavered, her resilience never faltered, this uncanny ability to affect others with warmth and acceptance never waned, her smile that could melt the harshest ice never diminished.  She was as beautiful a person on the inside as she was on the surface.

Ruth accomplished by kindness what she couldn’t by force and this gift increased the stamina and softened the fiber of everyone that she encountered.  In a very weary world, Ruth was a ray of sunlight that brightened every room. Her loss to us is incalculable, but we will struggle through because that is what she would have wanted.  For all that Ruth has meant to us, she deserves our gratitude and not our grief. Our loss is Heaven’s gain.

Ruth Marie Leftwich was predeceased by her parents and siblings, Robert Leftwich, Cynthia Jayne Leftwich, Patricia Leftwich, Marjorie Johnson, Celestine Mooney, Helen Leftwich, Claude Leftwich and Josephine Spears.

She is survived by nephew, Claude Spears (Michelle); niece, Claudia Scott (Henry); grandnephew, Kristopher Scott (Bonnie); grandniece, Leah Scott; great grandnephew, Ethan Scott and a host of family and friends.

Friends will be received on Monday, February 20, 2023 from 9:30 A.M. until 10:00 A.M. the hour of a funeral service in the Warco-Falvo Funeral Home, Inc., Wilson at East Katherine Ave., Washington, S. Timothy Warco, Owner/Supervisor, S. Timothy Warco II, Director, Holly Renay Warco, Director.  Interment will follow in Washington Cemetery.  Condolences may be expressed at www.WarcoFalvoFuneralHome.com